The Next Ten: Dirk Nowitzki

For the 96-97 season, the NBA named its list of the 50 Greatest Basketball Players. For 06-07, we at Pacifist Viking will be adding 10 players to the list. We are not the first to re-examine the list of the greatest players. But you know what? We're the best.

Dirk Nowitzki is a rare talent, and he's only recently come into his own. In 2006 he averaged 26.6 ppg and 9.0 rpg and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals ('06 playoffs: 27.0 ppg and 11.7 rpg). Playing the league's most talent-rich position, he's been All-NBA 6 times, including All-NBA first-team the last two seasons (this season he will undoubtably be All-NBA first-team again).

This season he's averaging 25.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg with some AMAZING shooting numbers (50.4% FG, 42.7% 3pt., 90.6% FT) in leading the Mavericks to the best record in the league. He'll turn 29 this summer. No doubt he's going to go down as one of the most versatile basketball players of all-time. He will also go down as one of the greatest.

Dirk Nowitzki is akin to Goethe, because I am lazy.

Previous Players: Bob McAdoo, Dennis Rodman, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Reggie Miller, Allen Iverson, and Jason Kidd.