2009 TOP 10 NBA PLAYERS: #10 Dirk Nowitzki

Among the NBA elite stands 7-foot 1-inch tall power forward from Germany, Dirk Nowitzki.  The Dallas Maverick’s 10-year veteran is an 8 time NBA All-Star, 1 time NBA MVP, and is one of the leagues most versatile players.  Nowitzki is a career 37.9% 3-point shooter and 22.6 points per-game average, and is currently 5^th in the league in scoring averaging 25.3 ppg.  But numbers alone do not measure up to the type of player he is on and off the court for his teammates, fans, German hopeful players, and the NBA.  At 7’1’ tall, most basketball fans would think of a Shaq, Gasol, Howard, Duncan, or even a Yao type of player.  You would also think that he is a player who makes his living 15ft from the basket faced up or on the block with his back to the hoop banging bodies underneath.  Yes, that is a part of Dirk Nowitzki’s game, just not all of it.  Known as one of the leagues deadliest 3-point shooters, Dirk forces his defenders to play up tight on him to defend his shot.  However, when Dirk begins to knock down his shots its forces his defenders to play him close, and this is when he uses his height to his advantage.  With his ability to put the ball on the floor, Dirk is skilled enough to drive past his defender for a lay-up or pull-up for a shot over him.  He is also capable of turning his back to the defensive player and playing with his back to the basket like a traditional big man.  He has perfected a turn around fade away that is very similar to Michael Jordan’s or Kobe Bryant’s, except what sets him apart from the others is he is 7 ft tall, making the shot impossible to block.

To be a part of the NBA elite, players need to be game changers, a.k.a clutch players.  A game changer or a clutch player is the player that a team turns to and counts upon to have the mental toughness to put the team on their backs during scoring droughts, score when their team is in dire need, make pivotal shots throughout the game, and even make buzzer beaters.  Dirk Nowitzki has proven himself time after time throughout his career with all sorts of clutch shots that have helped the Mavericks achieve victory.  And as a versatile one of a kind clutch player, and one of the leagues most respected players, Nowitzki has earned his spot in the NBA Elite as the 10^th best current player.

By Brian Bernstein

- Head of Basketball Related Operations for ScoutingTheSports.com

ScoutingTheSports.com Exclusive Article