Dirk Nowitzki: I didn’t want to accept the NBA MVP Award

[@FrYLocK41]

Dirk's career is the most unique. He's been through the lowest of the low and the highest of the highs and stayed with one city for 21 freaking years through thick and thin. Him taking pay cuts, him revolutionizing the PF position, the one legged fade away. He showed LeBron what perseverance was all about in 2011 instead of taking the easy way out. He showed loyalty and class at the highest level, which a lot of players are lacking today. He overcame all that "soft" label stereotype. Dirk never threw any of his teammates under the bus, he never complained or demanded a trade, he made the most of what he's got and became Dallas' favorite son and now forever immortalized in that city.

[@iamhexoronii]

He literally said he would have left Dallas if he didn’t win a ring , toward the late of his career to ring chase

[@iamhexoronii]

He literally said he would have left Dallas if he didn’t win a ring , toward the late of his career to ring chase

[@iamhexoronii]

He literally said he would have left Dallas if he didn’t win a ring , toward the late of his career to ring chase

[@terrycools6731]

@@iamhexoronii right lol people just gotta insert LeBron hate into everything

[@dblanch99]

@@iamhexoronii You gonna say it again?

[@jasonsandhu3760]

Dirk's entire career, having witnessed it, was an absolute roller coaster ride. Thank you for everything 😊 dirk 41 forever

[@par3do717]

Dirk is a comeback hero. From zero in 2006 to hero in 2011 winning the NBA championship

[@ComedicPause]

By zero, you mean runner-ups to the nba championship with unscrupulous Finals referees? I think that makes him *at least* top 2 of 30.

[@VenEm]

@@ComedicPause there were talks of trading dirk back then..

[@eamonkelley3811]

@@VenEm that was summer of 04' when Shaq was on the trade block. 06-07' he wasn't going anywhere.

[@brianlobo-amaro8958]

@@ComedicPause 0…. Zero championships in 06

[@Thehomelessathlete]

Anti KD

[@mchav7718]

Dirk 1 ring > KD 2 rings

[@NickBoss243]

Dirk had to earn that ring

[@eliaskhoury4302]

Dirk 1 ring > LeBron any ring

[@someshsaharan5813]

@Jim Brave souce?

[@robbyrobinson4500]

Dirk- stand up man, KD- just a complete douche bag. Kd had to find a team that was already winng championship rings. Dirk made his team a championship team.

[@ThePartarar]

Haters gonna hate

[@lifewalk244]

Humble, Class Act...no words for him. Amazing dude

[@blue-phoenix115]

2011 Is one of the heaviest championships! Top 4

[@finlayson6868]

And it's not 4. Or 3. Or 2.

[@cavemanyogi150]

Most impressive title run in history

[@jarrettlink6099]

Absolute legend. Great interview

[@Loomes23]

One of the most deserved Ring ever.

[@JPFree24]

Dirk has always been a class act. He's definitely one of the few good role models to come from the NBA.

[@rapsack7058]

He is surely a very good role model! And what respect he earned in the NBA you seen in the last year, how other players acted and the coaches and the franchises. Only a few earned so much respect from the whole NBA.

[@Warffles]

This is random but to further back OP's statement, ya'll should watch when Dirk Nowitzki got PUNK'D (old clip) while trying to enjoy a meal. Truly amazing how much patience he showed in that scenario... very classy/kind dude. ~edit: here's the clip (March 27, 2005)! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5W2Y2pmbdJjiZI

[@JPFree24]

@@Warffles I've seen it, he signs like 50 things for a kid while eating at a restaurant. Even someone else's jersey! Lol

[@rubenlopez2764]

Really? Because Lebron has never been in trouble. No scam artist girlfriend nothing...no mention of him. Wonder why?

[@joshuagarcia662]

Dirk was ahead of his time.. now they want all bigs to be like Dirk..

[@37thousand]

Or… all the bigs want to shoot like Dirk 😂

[@vincecarter2674]

Bob mcadoo outside shooting alot in 70s

[@rapsack7058]

Not only bigs. Seems Luka also copied some of his moves.

[@MrFraiche]

Dirk has become one of my favorite players ever after I learned more about him as a person. Such an amazing person on the inside. Such a respectable character. Raised the right way. Brother was straight unstoppable. Ahead of his time. Guy would DESTROY in today's game. Don't forget on this man's resume is that he took down arguably the basketball GOAT in his PRIME on a SUPERTEAM with a prime 3rd greatest SG of all-time, on a BUM team. And on his way there, he took down a prime SPURS team. He ain't no joke, that's why Kobe wanted him during free agency. 👊

[@rustyshackelford5892]

I cried when you retired thanks my dude #41

[@HannahRoot55]

Rust

[@keithgardner4505]

As a Dallas Mavericks fan we have watched this guy grow up and become a true legend. We have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are more talented players, but we watched Dirk give it his all for 21 years. A very humble and likeable superstar. It feels like he is a family member. Dirk has represented Dallas and the NBA very well. I know many fans who literally cried when the Mavs won the championship in 2011 and Dirk was overcome by emotion and came out of that locker room to give an interview. There are a lot of great players and a lot of great men in the NBA but there is only one Dirk Nowitzki.

[@oaktownstunna]

I don't think people realize how special that year was even for myself as a warrior fan I have a lot of respect for how hard he played all year

[@Kdubb815]

Gotta love this guy he’s a role model and a genuinely good dude.

[@allentrias1433]

Just one word for Dirk... Class...

[@nate9798]

I love this dude. I'm so glad he stayed with Dallas his whole career. Even though there have been legends play all sports in Dallas. He stands alone on the top.

[@whydoyoukeeptalking]

anyone who watched those games know it was one of the hardest and most deserved rings EVER. His fadeaway was UNSTOPPABLE! HE was literally UNSTOPPABLE!

[@dariog36th]

The Mavs totally blew it that year. They could’ve eliminated the Warriors from playoff contention in the last game of the regular season but they tested all their stats and they were beaten by Golden State. A team they hadn’t beaten all year. So now they go up against the warriors in the playoffs who are being coached by Don Nelson who knew the Mavericks better than anyone and knew exactly how to beat them.

[@TheHookemhornman]

As a native Texan/from Dallas. I love it so much he’s been here long enough to get our accent

[@joelden]

So humble for an all time top 20 player. Much respect to you Dirk.

[@gal3930]

I think it is quite safe to say Top 15

[@finlayson6868]

@@gal3930 Love me some dirk but every list I've ever read has him 15-20. It comes down to Dirk, Oscar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and KG for the last spot. You could argue that it's Dirk, but I go with Oscar.

[@xofmetleh6618]

This is my personal GOAT. No one can take that away from me haha. 2006 is kinda like Lakers vs Kings some calls really went to Heat and Dirk is injured.

[@go_423]

2006 is kinda like wade destroyed y’all

[@Kimoharoun]

Also 2000 blazers. Fuck those shitty refs.

[@lordbanks2559]

@@go_423 refs destroyed us

[@DeeBrownLTD]

I was absolutely cheering for that Warrior “We Believe” team!!

[@FromRussia_wLuv]

Dirt and Giannis have two of the most impressive NBA championship rings in the modern era

[@hardwoodthought1213]

03 Duncan and 94 Hakeem are better. Giannis can’t be there, his team won multiple games in a conference finals without him

[@miorionomichi]

Hakeem championship is the only one that matches Dirk’s run

[@anthonysporty3395]

Idk about Gianni's but for sure 11 dirk and 10 Lakers afters dirks in 11 joining superteams like lebum became a thing

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Dirk’s 2011 Playoff run was pretty amazing. He blew through the defending champion Lakers, the KD/Russ/Harden Thunder & Bron’s Heat. That’s some seriously heavy lifting….

[@CleoDog]

Underrated comment

[@scottpeters5772]

This man is a living legend in the DFW.

[@marcob.8671]

When you think of greatest competitors ever man, this man is on Mt. Rushmore and you can’t tell me otherwise.

[@kharris20413]

Jordan..Kobe..KG..Iverson🤷🏾‍♂️

[@alfredoarevalo725]

@@kharris20413 One of this things is not like the other, one of these things didn't won a ring, also one of this things got torched with 33ppg. and 15rpg. on a playoff series.

[@kharris20413]

@@alfredoarevalo725 what does a ring have to do with competitors. I tried to keep it legends but Jimmy Butler 10x more competitive than Dirk…

[@haexi1010]

@@kharris20413 lol. What bullshit. Dirk was a menace competitively

[@marcob.8671]

@@kharris20413 what does a ring have to do with competitors? EVERYTHING. especially when you're the only superstar on your team

[@danielsoto8738]

They should go back to giving the mvp trophy before the games the crowd would always be so hype

[@Chairsium]

Almost every player goes through lows to get to the highs. Its just how it goes.

[@akidotaco]

Most players and most people when they hit the lows never get up again. This is what makes the Dirk story so exceptional. He not only got back up from the depths of defeat, he soared to the mountain top.

[@HooodClassicsTV]

Thank you Dirk for opening the doors for Europeans. I know there were many before him but he made Americans comfortable with European players after his rise to stardom

[@wjl2068]

Dirk gave everybody the business in the NBA, Barkley's was in awe of the guy. That means something with all the hof Barkley had to go up against

[@Brasi7]

This was great.

[@super-man1088]

Legend🔥🙏🏻

[@LennartBrand]

best guy ever

[@AlexJamesRas]

If the Mavs breathed on Wade the Refs blew the whistle.

[@corymountain3957]

Yup and d wade couldn’t not shoot in his early years. So d wade was getting everything he wanted just keep driving to the basket. That was super disappointing to see the refs continue to call foul after foul. D wade was living at the free throw line .

[@trootzy]

When I need cheering up, I watch Dirk beat the Heat

[@Shinobi33]

Same thing for me in watching the 2006 Finals

[@An0nymous_L0gic]

Class personified

[@cameronchiesa1031]

Makes the 2011 title that much sweeter!

[@mekayaka]

🐐🐐🐐

[@viktorkopinc4055]

Douuwn, douuuwn, legend.

[@erickgabilan4858]

Dirk's one ring > LeBron's 4. No superteam. No allstar teammate. Washed JKidd washed Shawn Marion. Went through defending champs lakers. The thunder. Probably the hardest championship ever won IMO

[@DanielFolsom]

Eh, I think those kinds of comparisons are a bit trite. It also feels like the last of its era type of championship: It was the first year of the first legit superteam-the Miami big 3-and that team hadn't completely gelled yet. So, while the Mavs technically beat a superteam, it was almost a prototype superteam. Since 2011, and particularly in the last few years, it's been a different story: Now, you basically have to beat at least two super teams to have a chance at the championship, and that's if you're lucky. But it's also worth pointing out how well rounded the Mavs were, in particular defensively, in part because they didn't have multiple superstars.

[@lemmyfromhamburg]

Word..

[@randomguy8552]

put some respect on JKidd tho, he showed up

[@lemmyfromhamburg]

@@randomguy8552 you right...kidd was great...same as marion and the jet...but no superteam...i think dirk did it with no all star beside him.

[@Skramjk]

You just don’t like Lebron. Lebron easily has the greatest ring of all time. Lebron averaged 30 11 9 and came back from a 3-1 lead against the team with the greatest regular season record.

[@collin7810]

Classic. 💐

[@dynamicphotography_]

I love the name DIRK. Lol. It's such a jock name. But yeah he's a champions' champion. This dude did it the right way.

[@fhdhhghbkn3759]

It's a strong german name. Better than DeMarvion or whatever the f you guys are called

[@shotaomori6246]

If I can receive one thing from Dirk, then I want his spirit.

[@TejBBF223]

Warriors and Heat really toughened him up physically.

[@waltclarke2618]

Best player of that era as he didn't need a team of all stars to win

[@jonathanpedersen7654]

Dirk the goat euro player...Luka may surpass him though.

[@omargonzalez-gv5qg]

Giannis is gonna surpass him

[@jasonsandhu3760]

@@omargonzalez-gv5qg although this maybe true. Dirk changed the game for forwards and bigs. Giannis Luka Dirk and the Joker will all go down as the very best Europe has to offer when it's all said and done

[@benjaminan1183]

@Jim Brave Dirk's prime didn't intersect with Robinson or Hakeem's at all. Shaq and Dirk didn't play the same position. Duncan was never Dirk's primary defender, Bowen was. Giannis' prime intersects with AD & Zion.

[@Kimoharoun]

​@@benjaminan1183 what about garnet. Dirk demolished garnet.

[@rams8008]

Dirks cool

[@shotbboy]

Hated him as a player because he always made clutch shots

[@rapsack7058]

Lol, he did ...:)

[@anthonysporty3395]

I use to hate dirk going up against the Lakers and Kobe 😂 with a passion. Haha now is nothing but respect to an all time great . I cheered for him in 11 glad he got that ring . Over lebum

[@OH_MY_DOGGG]

All of those Maverick teams since Cuban took over were so memorable. Does anyone even remember Nash as a Maverick anymore? But anyways. Its a shame Nash couldnt get a ring. I'm so glad they got one as a franchise. They'd be remembered poorly if they didnt.

[@jacobpule6390]

Been a Mavs fan since 1998. I’ll never forget those early 2000’s Mavs team with Nash and Mike Fin. I look back and just love all those teams they had throughout the years. All the games. All the Dirk moments. The Nash trade :( I think about guys like Nick Van Exel. Lafrentz. Even guys like Marquis Daniels and Josh Howard. Even Keith Van Horn. Just always loved seeing the Mavs competing hard for 15+ years. Love my Mavs.

[@bicepsboy167]

Dirks ring is worth more than Lebrons and KDs rings together. No superteam bullshit.

[@SincereSentinel]

Fun Fact- He views Kobe as the best basketball player he's ever seen up close or competed against.

[@mrmacross]

Kudos to Dirk for not acknowledging the elephant in the room, that the 2006 Finals were so suspiciously officiated.

[@hotxrice]

Rather see him on all the smoke.

[@brandondonley4275]

Refs absolutely stole that 2006 trophy.

[@egarci1010]

Love Dirk Kobe should have won MVP this year. But the media hated him at the time

[@HannahRoot55]

Where ya from 😮??

[@BigBen1994]

2011 had to feel like the best revenge

[@BigBen1994]

@Kana Jingly Yeah that's what made them lose just plain old karma.

[@zebragreen3944]

Chris Bosh was on skates..

[@parlayin]

What shoes he wearing?

[@taken_down_account4977]

Idk

[@captainclip5044]

AJ1 Low

[@krisinhere1691]

Mavs won in 06

[@LPjunemark]

The warriors was their worst matchup in that season. Warriors got waxed by the jazz in the 2nd rd.

[@jordanflores5687]

Lebron woulda accepted it and said this makes me the goat

[@oldmanballer5088]

I think that Golden State team beat them 3 times in the regular season, they just didn’t match up well with that team.

[@peterburman5193]

The 2006 NBA Finals were rigged!

[@Bmore573]

First

[@VVVY777]

That's the difference between a Champion like Dirk, and someone like Russell Westbrook. Dirk lost, and didn't want the MVP. It was the lowest point of his career. Now think about Westbrook and his MVP.