Dirk Nowitzki’s worst playoff game spoiled his MVP season and had people questioning his legacy

[@SecretBaseSBN]

The Worst is back! We’re gonna mix in some episodes like this one that highlight the low points for specific, historically great players and teams. If you've got suggestions, we're all ears.

[@bigbadzeus8321]

Peyton Manning Super Bowl XLVIII Performance

[@amlansanyal9663]

Do the worst Tim Duncan game if there is one 😂

[@hiimemily]

Tom Brady's worst playoff performance? Also I'm not sure if it would be possible, but an episode on the 2000 NBA Draft would be pretty cool.

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

Worst NHL All Star Game

[@northstarpokeshipper2148]

Worst Brett Farve game! (Or Aaron Rodgers game)

[@TheWillrus]

Dirk absolutely deserved the redemption. I'm not really into basketball, but here in Dallas I don't know anyone who doesn't like Dirk

[@MikeBNumba6]

I'm glad he stuck with the same franchise and didn't run like stars are doing now. Dirk used to get called soft a lot by the media. It was amazing to watch him and his team perform against the Heat

[@JohnSmith-hf6gg]

@Matthew Spurs stupid

[@jeremyhart557]

Big german he deserve it

[@balbonits]

@Matthew Spurs ... Is this an "at"?

[@laflame5506]

I'm from Houston but when I went to a Mavs game everybody cheered for him. Got to see the dirk fader and the harden stepback in 1 game

[@nathaniellevesque2782]

The 2011 finals did a ton to turn around Dirk's legacy.

[@internettroll7497]

Skip's wetdream

[@logan_nowicki]

Dallas always loved him, but no doubt it got the rest of the league talking

[@cachedreamer]

@@logan_nowicki Yea but this just took him up levels. When you consider some guys who barely get off the bench have 3+ rings it really puts it into perspective how much Dirks one is worth. When people say its worth more than both of Kds they arent joking.

[@logan_nowicki]

@Safe I can see that. To me it felt like he was always up there (Probably cause I lived in Dallas during that time), but I can see how that elevates him above names like Steve Nash and Charles Barkley.

[@BokuGlack]

Nathaniel Levesque and put LeBron at Top 3 instead of #1

[@shadyparadox]

People should have absolutely seen it coming. Dallas was 67-15 that year, but 0-3 against the Warriors, including two blowout losses in Oakland. One of them came right at the peak of the Mavs' season, in which they just demolished the Lakers by 30+ the previous game, putting them at 52-9 and a 17-game winning streak. Even at their height, they had no idea how to play the Warriors. One problem not mentioned in the video was that while GS's front court was undersized, their backcourt was oversized. Davis and Richardson completely overpowered Harris and Terry, which was one of the lesser known reasons Dallas traded Harris for the larger and more defensive Jason Kidd the following year.

[@myleslondon5220]

Ya it kinda reminds me of the heat vs bucks this year

[@trentonayershandsoffire3620]

1 champion an he’s a Legend?

[@Ma1q444]

Dirk fanboys be like

[@Bigedub101]

I was one said Dallas might lose this cause Dallas played too soft and didn't play big

[@razkable]

the warriors had their old coach and a great small ball lineup...ran the mavs off the floor...from 3 especially...al harrington mickael pietrus matt barnes stephan jackson to go with davis ellis and richardson was a scary team..biedrins could play big if need be...

[@nomads716]

You forgot to mention that dirk punched a wall in the oracle arena tunnel. Warriors are moving that hole to the chase center.

[@ZeteticPhilosopher]

Orangeman 18 And threw a folding chair 20ft up into the ceiling. Half the Warriors team has tried to throw a chair that high, but nobody could do it.

[@Ps5lover9]

His name is dirk not Kyle

[@ianchung2383]

Kabelo Muhammad underrated comment

[@superbad001992]

Orangeman 18 💀😂💀

[@myncraft1]

@@ZeteticPhilosopher its that high arc shot 😂

[@MADWEIRD]

I used to work at the Oracle and Dirk punched a big hole in their wall but was a great sport and had autographed the wall lmao

[@TheTwoPhillips]

I originally had this in the script but had to cut it for length. They cut out that section of the wall to display it in the new Warriors arena!

[@AJ-jn2iz]

no he threw a trash can up there. Get it right

[@caleb__mtz]

A J The walls are 'up there'? In what country?

[@jon99867]

@@TheTwoPhillips cut it out for length? Your video didn't even reach 10 minutes! Anyways, still was a great video :p

[@kennethjose7159]

Lol! Dirk’s a fun guy

[@peqdavid5]

Do Brazil's worst World Cup game in history: the 7-1 defeat by Germany in the 2014 WC Semifinals.

[@christianwilliams9203]

David Muñoz that would be a great episode

[@cachedreamer]

I dont know what he could say. Germany were just sensational, theres really no explanation for it. Sure Germany were favorites but Brazil just bottled. I guess they could speak about the Neymar back injury but Neymar wouldn't have won them that game.

[@rickycarrillo7821]

David Muñoz that one is interesting because they didn’t have 6 or 7 starters due to the colombia game a few days before. It was Germany beating Brazil’s benchwarmers and I would love to see their take on it

[@threaruscamuwundra7417]

@@cachedreamer What people forget is that Thiago Silva was suspended during that match. He was truely the one great defender brazil had and without him the defense got trashed. And so the germans feasted upon them

[@cachedreamer]

@@rickycarrillo7821 They lost two, Neymar and Silva.

[@mjpipkid]

People forget Dallas lost all 3 games in the regular season to Golden State and that it was just a bad matchup for the Mavs.

[@TituzzzD]

Even worse, the last regular season game for both was against each other. If the Mavs would have won, the Warriors wouldnt have made the playoffs. I remember it like yesterday. :/

[@mjpipkid]

Dallas was playing their regulars with home court locked up because they knew that was a bad matchup for them.

[@mase8705]

mjpipkid that's exactly what I was thinking. Dallas played them 3 times and lost all 3. Golden State was 42-40 & if Dallas won one maybe 2, Golden State wouldn't be in the playoffs.

[@jaws3772]

@@TituzzzD It was the 2nd to last game of the season. If the Mavs beat them, they would've finished 41-41 and still had the 8th spot. Clippers were 9th at 40-42. www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2007.html

[@1mfilms]

Not to mention, Warriors coach Don Nelson was the Mavs' former coach and knew Dirk well. Also, the Mavs coach was Avery Johnson who used to be Nelson's assistant coach. It was just the perfect situation for Nelson's Warriors to take advantage of.

[@koolkokujin7015]

That GS team had HEART AND SWAG at every position. And no....I'm not a GS fan but I can appreciate the accomplishment.

[@mintymf]

as a mavs fan this really hurts... I'll still watch and like tho :(

[@ktaleb45]

Aaron Gibson it just made the 2011 title sweeter

[@cvilla5631]

Im tearing up a bit about that part when he was walking to the locker room after they won against the Heat.

[@anthoonnyv]

truth hurts no lizzo

[@malgold88]

@@ktaleb45 sweeter than Cale with pixie sticks on the side.

[@Kimoharoun]

What really hurt honestly was the cheating in the 06 finals. I hared bastketball after that stupid series. It was a mark of shame on the whole nba. However the gsw were the better team against the mavs honestly.

[@allisknu11]

Redemption for both Jason Kidd and Dirk. Jason's journey hasn't been easy either (New Jersey Nets).

[@SurgingChaos19]

2007 Mavs: This is the worst upset in all of professional sports. 2019 Lightning: Hold my beer.

[@guccigucci5002]

not really playoff and hockey in general is all luck. mainly deflection goals and only goalie matters. trash sport

[@alphadog4real53]

Adam K deflection goals happen from good positioning

[@nikolaidebrey4960]

Adam K not all luck, just way more of a team sport than basketball

[@guccigucci5002]

@@nikolaidebrey4960 LMAO not even close. a hot goalie is all that matters u can get dominated and win

[@ComicBookKing]

Warriors 3 -1 ring a bell?

[@schmassbinder]

It would be pretty weird to see an NBA MVP at a hostel.

[@ramiqcom]

most hostel bed are pretty small, i wonder if he would able to sleep at all

[@kostassalerakis1024]

@@ramiqcom fetal position I guess. That's how I do it, I'm only 6'8 though

[@LazarTheMaster]

@@kostassalerakis1024 first and probably last time I ever heard someone say "I'm only 6'8" lol

[@RenaldyCalixte]

@@LazarTheMaster In context the guy is comparing himself to Dirk.

[@rohan_3128]

he's humble af, i don't know when will we see a guy like him again

[@jayvilla6277]

You should do one on The Worst Basketball Team, the 11-12 Bobcats

[@bryce975]

Jay Villa 2019 warriors*

[@jackreacher3383]

How is 2019 warrior the worst

[@kobeisthegoat5767]

Joel Sterling that was ‘08

[@thetayster]

Voltexx VG how lmao

[@khpitbos17]

Joel Sterling 2015 or 2016, seriously? How is it possible to have this bad a grasp on the passage of time?

[@905kar5]

Everybody acts like Golden state had no fans back in the day even though they were selling out every game at oracle for years

[@johndoe-nt]

Everybody?

[@stoddard1953]

Not me. I've been aware of their die hard fanbase for awhile.

[@akaglide3485]

I don’t think that at all. Just the people out of Cali are the band wagoners. I live in Texas and it wasn’t until after the 2015 season GSW jerseys were popping up everywhere.

[@unknowncat5000]

i mean you could say that about the fans back then too... hopping on the we believe wave.

[@BrandanTheBroker]

Won't say they didn't have fans, but some of these bandwagoners act like they were down when people forgot Golden State was a team, when Mr. Cooper was their best player and Danny Tanner was their biggest fan

[@billkevin4501]

Legend Dirk. Gonna miss him so much.

[@lucwijngaard8413]

Dirk is the best European Player ever!!!!

[@GodyP]

Hands down

[@Commievn]

@Tony Preston Luka Doncic* Giannis is a European too but i think he identifies as a Nigerian i believe. I hope Giannis move to another team tho. Milwaukee isn't a big market and the NBA tend to dislike small market. Luka is in the most perfect NBA team tho. Not only Dallas has a history of good European players. They also adore European players thanks to Dirk. Beside, Dallas Doncic does have nice rings to it.

[@spongeaang98]

@@Commievn Dirk didn't need a big market to be a superstar and neuter did Tim Duncan and the Spurs, who have more rings than most of these legendary franchises do. I live in Chicago and big markets are overrated.

[@robbiegarnz7732]

I thought it was great how Cuban stood by him even after that miserable series. It took a lot of courage for Dirk to own that performance and rise above it.

[@aland7629]

LOL "Niner's legends like Ronnie Lott and uhh... Alex sMiTh." IM DONE

[@1mfilms]

The funny thing is the Niners ultimately went with Kaepernick over Smith. While he did lead them to a Superbowl, he flamed out really quickly after and Smith ended up having the longer career... and is still playing today.

[@IncredibleFulk1]

1MFilms People forget Smith took them to the NFC Championship the year before and possibly the Super Bowl if not for Kyle Williams.

[@kombuchasmellsnice]

Dirks run in 2011 was one of the sweetest redemptions in sports

[@abnercorvera6568]

This one hurts just as much as blowing a 2-0 lead the year before in the finals but 2011 let me rest

[@malgold88]

As a Mavs fan that hurt worse than '06. Thankfully we have 2011 to reminisce about. And Luka to watch.

[@johnbossy4443]

Not gonna be watching him in a Mavs jersey for much longer

[@jimharbaugh5886]

Can you do a collapse of the 2012-2013 Detroit Tigers

[@ralphvegeta]

Jim Harbaugh I agree

[@christopherkopke7593]

Urinating Tree already covered that. “The Modern Tragedy”

[@kevinsheahan9347]

How about the collapse of the 49ers/you

[@jimharbaugh5886]

Christopher Kopke I know but it annoys me how he talks

[@mjwbulich]

During game 1 of the 2012 WS Pablo Sandoval ripped Verlanders still beating heart from his chest and held it aloft for all to see. The Tigers never recovered. The End.

[@chrislane9615]

still asking for a reggie miller 8 points 9 seconds rewinder, its WAY overdue

[@asserakram1725]

True

[@jennapherhague5728]

As much as it would be like being nibbled to death by ducks, Miller slaying Knicks a worthy Rewind😏

[@oMaJoJ]

Don't give these dudes excuses to do more New York stuff. That can't wait a while

[@jennapherhague5728]

I think these guys do a fairly good job of spreading around the pain, kinda like a really good Mistress 🖤😏

[@jfinn3096]

Agreed

[@paligula.]

Dirk then gave the honor for most embarrassing playoff lost to Lebron, who then handed it over to the warriors. A full basketball circle of life

[@ericzamudio2905]

Lmao!

[@fredericoespinoza897]

And the Warriors handed it to James Harden this year for losing to them in 6 at home after the dubs lost KD , Looney, Boogie , and Klay Thompson

[@alapotato9367]

Frederico Espinoza wasnt that raptors?

[@rebecca4680]

Ala Potato . No it’s handing over ‘most embarrassing loss’, Raptors won.

[@alapotato9367]

Rebecca was it really an 'embarassing game' when your stars are injured

[@brandonperez2267]

That was so damn painful. Especially after losing to the heat in the finals the year before.

[@AD-sh6by]

Dirk is not only mavs legend but also NBA legend.

[@ja4309]

The moment I saw this, I already guessed it was against the "We Believe" Warriors. At least Dirk redeemed himself in 2011

[@rdtworld9720]

Great vid as always, but I do have a counter for one point you made. There was some thought about the Warriors winning this series. No one took it completely seriously because it was an 8 vs a 1, but the Warriors went 3-0 against Dallas in the regular season (two against Dallas's top talent, and Nowitzki was bad in the March matchup) and it was thought Don Nelson knew how to beat his old team (similar to the jon Gruden situation in the SB vs. the Raiders). That talk was there, this wasn't completely shocking even at the time.

[@The1stFishBone]

The Warriors had had a winning record against the Mavs the previous two seasons under Don Nelson, and the Mavs had the opportunity to knock the Warriors out of the playoffs in the last week of the season, but Avery Johnson decided to sit Dirk for rest. That was probably the most arrogant coaching move in NBA history. Going into that series I thought the Warriors were going to win. It really wasn't much of an upset. Don Nelson is the NBA's all time winningest coach and he knew exactly how to deal with Dirk and Avery Johnson's offense. I still can't believe the Heat beat the Spurs in 2013.

[@malgold88]

Yeah, going into that series I was concerned. Will disagree and say it was an upset though.

[@terrialpeal6319]

I can't believe dallas beat the heat 2011 oh yeah LeBron

[@OPP534]

Lol your last sentence was random af

[@The1stFishBone]

@@OPP534 That series was the biggest upset I've ever seen. The Spurs proved it was a fluke when the absolutely stomped the heat the next year. I brought it up because the video made it sound like that Mavs loss was the biggest upset ever.

[@OPP534]

@@The1stFishBone I met Avery Johnson yesterday and should’ve asked him if he still had nightmares of Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson 😂

[@rohinkartik-narayan7535]

2019 Tampa Bay Lightning playoff collapse And all the 1 seeds, I guess, but the Lightning specifically

[@runawaymakefriendswiththem8905]

Rohin Kartik-Narayan I still watch UT’s Congrats Lightning vid weekly.

[@saintvalentine4040]

The only thing that bring’s me joy as a Blue Jackets fan (it’s so painful)

[@runawaymakefriendswiththem8905]

Greennn i’m sorry brother, but i’m from the 412, 🤠

[@DUB_87]

Doesn't count in hockey. Any team can beat any team.

[@runawaymakefriendswiththem8905]

Robert Wisdom that can be said in any sport

[@Awesummzzz]

"You weren't there, but me and Dupree were." I laughed until I remembered the ending

[@JohnSmith-rf7wd]

Worst playoff collapse: 2018-2019 Tampa Bay Lightning 62 Wins in the regular season but end up getting swept in the 1st round by the Columbus Blue Jackets who barely got into the playoffs.

[@billycausgrove9657]

That was ridiculous.

[@bigblue9996]

Easy. 5 former Rangers who always underachieve in the playoffs (and I'm a Rangers fan).

[@TheECSH]

I'm a Spurs fan, and Dirk and his Mavs have been our most intense rivals, but toward the last few seasons, i started to appreciate this rivalry and Dirk's greatness. I'm glad he got his redemption. In terms of embarrassment, Spurs have also been there, being knocked off by the 8th seeded Memphis in 2011.

[@acedeuce92]

As a die hard Mavs fan, that Mavs/Warriors series left me depressed for the rest of the whole summer, didn't even watch the rest of the playoffs or finals. Thank God 2011 happened though

[@voodoodiecast]

Tre Burnett you're not alone, that '07 season was so depressing and heartbreaking. I even doubt my mavs in 2011 when facing the 2x champ lakers but boy they swept them, gave me confidence to believe and eventually won the championship.

[@buto1118]

Dirk is such a humble dude

[@bigbuckz6014]

Don’t forget dirk punched a big hole in the wall in the back of the arena after they lost to the warriors 😂😂😂

[@awesomebillfromdawsomevill7788]

BigBuckz601 our entire fan base was punching holes in walls lol

[@holyarchangelmichael]

They framed that hole and Dirk signed it.

[@WildeCard4]

Not quite. Dirk threw a trashcan into the wall, and that's what caused the hole. See here: www.espn.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4700480/dirk-smiles-now-at-hole-in-oracle-arena-wall Still crazy, though -- those arena trash cans are pretty heavy!

[@tobiasschneider8247]

great video, pro athletes are just humans plagued by uncertainty and self doubt too. respect to mark cuban for having dirks back during that difficult time.

[@JohnDoe-fu4rz]

Now you have to do 2011 Mavs championship as the best

[@rrickydanby]

Glad to see this series back!

[@lukewarmwaterYT]

Please do a video on the 2019 Lightning. While getting eliminated in the first round like what Dallas did is embarrassing, at least they didn’t get swept.

[@DUB_87]

Doesn't count.

[@demonNthesn0w]

Robert Wisdom it does count

[@rjante2236]

@@DUB_87 How so? They were demolished and embarrassed, not to mention thry lost to a team that NEVER won a playoff series.

[@DUB_87]

@@rjante2236-In hockey, if they were allowed to let the worst team that might have went 10-72 into the playoffs, it's more likely for that team to upset the top seed than the 8 seed 40-42 in basketball or the 8-8 team in Football to upset the top seed.

[@tanguygoemanne4600]

I'm not American and I don't follow American sports but your content is so well put together that your videos fascinate me. Thank you guys for giving me a new hobby!

[@salamanderonhere]

awe come on... you didn’t have to do dirk like that

[@ihatemanchesterunited44]

Dead ass bro hahhahahahah, I was like nooooooooo

[@DUB_87]

Like what?

[@letsgoallin6496]

As a Spurs fan l Hate the Mavs. So l LOVED this... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[@chrisweber6090]

@@letsgoallin6496 spurs suck now lol enjoy being irrelevant with pop

[@RiruKrypto_]

@@chrisweber6090 Pop should retire already. lol

[@josedtx7534]

That's the only team that gave the Mavs fits during the regular season that year

[@Mektek19]

I remember Avery messed up by by not taking them serious in their last regular season matchup. I think they would have missed the playoffs if Dallas beat them.

[@GuavaConQueso]

Unfortunately, Baron Davis is going to be one of those players that get lost through NBA history which is ashame because he was really good. He survived in the league when players like marbary and Steve Francis fizzled out.

[@gj3514]

Victor Perez For casuals yes. For diehard NBA fans nope.

[@blacknetsmed]

Baron Davis has an exceptionally high basketball IQ. He's one of the best performing All Star level Guards in Playoff History.

[@nathanprentiss7578]

He just was injured half his career. Diehard fans know he was good when on the court.

[@GuavaConQueso]

I agree a die-hard who studies the history will run into Baron Davis, but being 29 myself there's players from the 70s and 80s like Sidney moncrief, Nate Archibald, Ronaldo Blackman, Adrian dantley and Dave Bing that I see don't get mention too often when talking about pivotal all time great players which maybe they're not but that was my point if you don't define your era like bird, magic, Jordan, LeBron you get lost in the shuffle.

[@DUB_87]

Well Baron fizzled out too. He was done by the time he was like 31-32.

[@aydensluka2791]

Dirks legacy is never a question. He was awesome and that's it💯

[@TheTwoPhillips]

definitely isn't now!

[@marcusmcgraw3519]

It’s not a question at this point in time. But it definitely was in 2010, especially following a loss as a 2 seed in the first round to the Spurs

[@page8301]

@@marcusmcgraw3519 It was never in question for knowledgeable fans. only casuals who have no clue about the sport besides knowing ppg and rebound stats.

[@marcusmcgraw3519]

@@page8301 his legacy as the best shooting big man was never in question. His legacy as someone who compares to Kevin Garnett all time would have only been possible with a ring. If he never won a championship, then he wouldn’t have been close to Garnett

[@page8301]

@@marcusmcgraw3519 Nonsense. KG went to Boston and had far more help than Dirk ever had. Dirk was always the better and more impactful offensive player and one of the clutches in league history. He is also one of a few players who was able to up his offensive production compared to his regular season while retaining his efficiency or losing very little regardless of defences, something that KG could not. Hell, not even Bird was able to do this. So, anyone with an ounce of knowledge and understanding realises that Dirk was one of the greatest and a legend, ring or no ring. The ring and that 2011 was just the cherry on top.

[@langslays1881]

Dirk is one of the most underrated and most unappreciated superstars of all time. Not to mention, people forget the ‘11 finals has to be one of the hardest rings to get ever.

[@msytuser]

Dirk is not underrated in any universe

[@ShooterSanoff]

WE BELIEVE WARRIORS!!! THAT WAS MY LIFE IN HIGHSCHOOL! Before Steph and all the titles and winning those We Believe Warriors were the biggest basketball memories of my life! Stack Jack "Cut Throat"

[@shawnedwards7911]

The struggle makes the victory that much sweeter

[@aznpikachu215]

It wasn't just Dirk's worst playoff series...he couldn't get it done. And Nelson knew the way Dallas played, and Mavs were too slow.

[@KWCline91]

What people forget was that Golden State actually owned Dallas that year. This is not the biggest upset in NBA basketball history. But it is historic.

[@ThuanTran-nv9yb]

@@KWCline91 It was a bad matchup.

[@razkable]

yeah that was a weird matchup of styles..the mavs played half court slow ball while the warriors sped it up played small but shot threes played tough and had monta ellis off the bench which was overkill on a team with b davis cap jack and j rich on the perimeter already and a solid cast of pietrus barnes biedrins and big al around them

[@ThuanTran-nv9yb]

@@razkable They were built to beat the Spurs.

[@michaelhaydenbell]

Ok? Talk about splitting hairs. None of this is an exact science, bro. There is no "official biggest upset"; it's all subjective.

[@mrperson0140]

Goes to show you must never give up. Dirk could've let this ruin him but the man never gave up. Knicksfan here but I respect the hell out of Dirk. You'll be missed big Germ.

[@paligula.]

This is why dirk is loved so much and that 2011 championships run is still held in high regard to this day. Perseverance, dedication, loyalty after historic playoff loses

[@mecube9148]

No jumping ship like a well known princess and her super friends

[@JoshuaFrick3]

+mav stevens Dirk will never have to pay for another meal in Dallas, Texas another day in his life. Nor, should he. Dirk is the king in my book.

[@johnanderson9765]

The Dirk preformance that stands out to me was a conference game against Oklahoma City in 2011. He scored 48 points, shooting 12-15 from the field and set a record for made free throws, going 24-24.

[@ReformedJerry]

Eveybody talks about dirk as he’s a beast which is true, but things like this never get brung up against those players like dirk. Tim Duncan missed a wide open post hook in a close finals game. Lebron is seen in a different way and it’s unfair.

[@areeshkirmani4013]

JerryOnDaBeat because none of those players are in the goat conversation. Lebron is over analysed and criticised and Mj only didn’t face the same scrutiny because Social media wasn’t a thing back then. Lebrons over analysed because he’s he greatest ever challenger to MJ and is playing in the social media era

[@chingshunyung8796]

Tim Duncan was not criticized as much even if the Spurs to the Grizzlies as the 1st seed because he already proved himself before that. People have less fun criticizing him. James Harden and Westbrook are now getting the Dirk treatment. People start saying they will never win a ring, aren't "playoffs players" or leaders. Let's see how their career end.

[@dusk112]

Lebron is under scrutiny because of how good he is. But some part of what you said is due to the fact that Dirk and Timmy do not run their mouths nor do they have a giant media circus around them

[@maralorca6518]

Around that time (the years before he won the title) he's always called a soft euro who will never win because he just can't get over the hump/ he doesn't have it in him. He also had his fair share of criticism and is looked at quite below LeBron or Jordan. But for him to be MVP of the league is amazing in and of itself. He came from a whole nother continent, had to adjust to a new country/culture, and to his NBA peers. He had to outwork everyone to prove that he is the franchise player, and he did his job consistently well. That's why he's legendary. LBJ and MJ are seen in a different way because they had the talent and the hype before they even played an NBA game. The expectations are so high for them. Every single move is scrutinised. They lived up to and even exceeded those expectations and that's why they're the GOAT players.

[@TrueGuardify]

@@chingshunyung8796 Okay but fr Westbrook is never, ever gonna win a ring the way he plays, especially shooting 3's and his stat padding. Get this guy to be less selfish and focus on giving people good looks as opposed to dumping the ball on them and hoping they get him an assist, as well as utilise his drives and inside play, maybe take a pay cut to get a solid co-star and then he MIGHT win a championship with the right team. As it stands James Harden is doomed to never win with Westbrook on his team, because Westbrook is doomed to never win with the way he plays and the $$$ he eats from a team's budget.

[@AlienMyndz]

So glad you are bring this series back. It's my favorite next to Rewinder

[@kmena05]

Stephen Jackson was an underrated player he was deadly from the 3, I remember in 2012 when the Spurs were against the Thunder the whole Spurs team was collapsing and Jackson was still lighting it up from the 3.

[@NoFedRevolution]

Capitan Jack could play man, no doubt!

[@razkable]

@@NoFedRevolution fearless

[@tannerw5011]

dude played high AF too

[@nickkhannigan]

If you’re gonna start focusing on specific athletes in this series, “The Worst MJ playoff performance” would be super interesting. Had so many iconic performances but ultimately didn’t make the finals for 7 years to begin his career so I’m sure there were some games to forget.

[@loganrasch2034]

Can you do a collapse video on the Bucks 2001 team and their rebuild to relevance?

[@nathanprentiss7578]

I don’t think a non bucks fan cares to see that. 2001 bucks were just ok just the east was very weak at that time.

[@kennethjose7159]

That Game 7 against the sixers tho...

[@loganrasch2034]

Thanks for the reply; I just want to see a bucks video on this channel (SB Nation) :-)

[@musagetes23]

YOOOOO glad to see this series make it's return.

[@agthaog1986]

Dirk is one of my favorite players....but i cant front around thAT time they called him "no D Dirk"

[@maralorca6518]

I remember people calling him _Irk Nowitzki 😒

[@agthaog1986]

@@maralorca6518 never heard that one

[@leoferwer1813]

It really was a surprise. Not that 6th game in particular, but the series itself. It was clear back in games 3 and 4 that the Mavs will lose. And many people thought they will never win a championship after that. But the Mavs were a top Western team (maybe not THE best, but a 2nd or 3rd best) year after year (a +50 wins 11 consecutive years), when the WC was insane. Really insane... some years all Western teams in playoffs had 50 wins. The Mavs and Dirk had a rough path to the championship each year, and fortunately they made it, finally, in 2011. Great vid!

[@bgrady24]

LeBron has been my favorite player his whole career. So I hated when the mavs beat them, but if anyone deserved a shot at turning around his legacy it was Dirk. I’m happy for him he got his ring.

[@wariggs16]

I like these episodes where it focuses more on the players and the game. The ones where it meanders into then current events and pop culture feel like they’re filling for time.

[@jarobiclark8926]

Please do OKC's playoff run / season in 2018 with Melo pg and russ ‼️

[@eduardoolifant6292]

Thanks for the education on the “We Believe” Warriors... I heard about them when they were playing their last regular season game at Oracle but didn’t know the actual history, just thought they were a lovable loser or something (I wasn’t watching basketball at that time yet). Nice to see this series back👍

[@elijahechicagobearsboyd5734]

I haven't even watched yet because I need to say Hell Freaking YES! THE WORST HAS RETURNED!

[@RDowney3]

Nobody mentions it but in the regular season this Warriors team had the Mavs number too. Dubs were 3-1 in the season series. Just a matchup nightmare for Dallas.

[@deantackett2059]

As a Mavs fan that was a dark time blowing the finals after being up 2-0 (even though we got shafted by sterns refs big times in that series) . going 67-15 I'm like its our year we are gonna win it all. Then comes crashing down. After that it was really in question if we were gonna win it all.

[@JoshuaFrick3]

Let's be honest about this. Dirk got bounced the next year in the 1st round by the Hornets. The next year he got bounced by the Nuggets during the whole tabloid affair with his girlfriend being a con-artist, all that publicity during the NBA playoffs. Even hardcore Mavs' fans like myself were discounting Dirk. I remember thinking Dirk will never win a ring being the best player on the team. Even Dirk had to have some self-doubts. How could you not when things just fell apart 4 years in a row and all the humiliation with the gf & all the people calling him out in the media... and from those dark days, Dirk rose up, lifting up his entire team in the process, and went on one of the most improbable, memorable, and historic playoff runs in NBA history. If that isn't the stuff of what legends are made of, then I don't know what is.

[@futurehofer1564]

This only makes him better, because it shows that he doesn't give up when he fail, but he stands up and keeps on trying, not a lot of people even have the energy to do that

[@mrtenfar]

That game should definitely Not put his legacy into question, plus I think he redeemed himself quite well a couple of years later. Lebron has had his fair share of such moments as well and his legacy shouldn't be questioned either.

[@nicolascage7345]

Yeah every great player has bad games sometimes

[@JayBeingNatural]

Oh, how I missed this. Awesome way to keep this series fresh, guys ☺️☺️

[@doruka890]

Can you make a rewinder about the formula 1 2008 title decider

[@MichaelSnyder1776]

Yes we need some F1 content !

[@uglyunicorn5622]

If we're gonna have a Rewinder on that race, we gotta have a Worst for the Indianapolis GP 2005

[@doruka890]

Agreed

[@tmacman0418]

That was a hard series to watch as a Mavs fan. I remember in one game we were making a rally to get the game close before halftime, but at the buzzer, Baron Davis hit a half-court shot to keep the Warriors ahead. We won 67 games that year and had a epic collapse but 4 years later Dirk was able to become a champion so it worked out in the end.

[@Airmaster167]

These were dark times for Mavs fans coming off a loss to the Heat in the finals and then a loss to the 8th seed the next year.

[@railenherman6482]

Even though this was a choke, It's also a great underdog story from the Warriors' perspective.

[@shaunalbert7681]

How about the worst #1 pick in nba history (hopefully it’s Anthony Bennett)

[@MylotheZooLovingScientist]

Lmao, "hopefully." You sound excited about it, like you have a vendetta against him. 😂

[@shaunalbert7681]

There are multiple reasons why I truly believe he’s the guy Played for 4 teams in 3 1/2 seasons Worst rookie performance by a #1 pick And most importantly almost no one expected him to go #1

[@MylotheZooLovingScientist]

@@shaunalbert7681 No, no, I'm not saying there aren't reasons, I just got a kick out of you saying "hopefully" it was Bennett. 😂

[@felixmartinez9673]

@@SimuLord My money is on Olowokandi

[@Xhoven]

At least Olowokandi was in the league for ten seasons. Anthony Bennett, on 4 teams in 4 different seasons, out of the league by 2017. Has any other #1 pick been traded after their rookie season? Martin was pretty awful too.

[@robertholston4708]

I would like to request a rewinder episode on Adam Vinaterri's kick to win Super Bowl XXXVIII, the Patriots 2nd championship. Despite being the team's 2nd title, in many ways this is where the Patriots as we know them today began. Picking up discarded players from other teams, savagely cutting beloved players, surprisingly getting blown out leading to the media claiming they are finished, winning an absurd amount of games consecutively, and getting clowned by a derpy qb in the big game. The 2003 Carolina Panthers are also one of the greatest Cinderella runs that get completely forgotten because they lost. Even the Super Bowl halftime show is legendary with P Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock, Justin Timberlake, and oh yeah Janet Jackson. I feel this is an overlooked pick.

[@kevinmalloy1978]

As a Panthers fan, let's not. Don't need that scab ripped off.

[@Colin-ut6cm]

I wonder if westbrook and Harden can do somehing similar. Like both are MVP's who continuosly had post seasons that have not met expectations are will be 30 years old by the end of the season. I wonder if they can actually do well

[@KWCline91]

It's a possibility.

[@forzaacmilan36]

KROCKOHOLICSHTOWN Harden hasn’t met expectations. What do you mean? Was people really expecting harden win against the greatest team of all time.

[@KWCline91]

Forza Ac Milan I’m not saying it can’t happen. I think it will.

[@hope2bedopeentertainment867]

Forza Ac Milan Those Warriors are not the greatest team of all time lol.

[@JohnDoe-dw7or]

Definitely should do a piece on the Vancouver Canucks loss in the Stanley Cup Finals and then the proceeding riots in the city

[@JoshuaFrick3]

2 things on this. #1 - I live here in Dallas, been a Mavs fan since the 87-88 season. I just don't think we realized it at the time, but look how bad that roster was around Dirk. Steve Nash was replaced with Devin Harris, who at the time seemed like an upstart PG in this league, but ultimately was a role player. Desagana Diop? Gimmie a break. Josh Howard. I mean, he just wasn't that good. He is a 1-time All Star (who got the nomination after 2 players missed due to injury) and the rest of his career is forgettable. Jason Terry was good but not great. I mean, the whole time Dirk is operating with guys like Jerry Stackhouse, great players 5 years earlier. I think it says more about Dirk's greatness that he won 67 games that year with that roster. #2 - Don Nelson's importance to this upset can not be overstated. He literally designed everything the Mavs were doing on offense & defense. If a guy creates a software program, is it that surprising that he knows how to hack into it & shut the program down no matter how good the users are on the other end? You take Don Nelson away & the Warriors might of gotten swept.

[@SocraticMind89]

Joshua Frick goddamn that is a great theory! I’m from Dallas too!

[@razkable]

i love how you forget erick dampier who was ok and they added austin croshere that year and devean george who were former starters on finals teams...plus veteran greg buckner and rookies like jj barea and maurice ager...the thing was terry howard dirk diop and harris were all in their primes and that was jerry's end of prime year same for damp and george was in his prieme age wise even if his game was a hair past his prime...thats all you needed back then...today thats not much but in 2006-2007 their roster was loaded with shooting and bigs who could cover dirk's weakness...trading away anthony johnson was weird imo...but outside of that they had a good team...

[@MisterDillPickle]

That ending shot of Dirk crying after 2011 was so emotional lol

[@mesousagaby740]

I still miss the obnoxious arrows.

[@YouTubeWatching67]

This video brings back bad memories then 2011 sets in and I feel my anxiety go away 😅

[@shakarussanders9911]

As a Mavs fan I remember this series very well Avery Johnson tried to play small ball with Don Nelson! You can't beat Nelly at his own game he invented that style! And then Golden State plays Utah in the next round and Utah was posting them up like it was nothing! I just don't understand why the Mavs didn't stick to what made them a 67 win team that year

[@razkable]

they had dampier van horn and diop next to dirk so they had no inside game lol not ak 47 millsap and okur for example next to boozer like the jazz had to kill the dubs inside...bad matchup

[@injusticeanywherethreatens4810]

Its not single moments that should define someone. Its when it keeps happening again and again.

[@TranceMovieVideos]

Do a Rewinder on Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko

[@TylrTheDstryr]

Dirk's legacy shouldn't be in question. Many players have a stain on their careers, like Micheal Jordan with the Wizards, Kobe and Shaq losing the 04' Finals, Curry, Klay, and Draymond with the 3-1 16' Finals, Lebron when he went to the Heat, Kevin Durant with the Golden State Warriors, John Stockton never getting a Finals trophy, and Derrick Rose with his injuries. But these players are not defined by these things, because they've all done some incredible and near impossible things that made sure that the legacies they've had or will have wont be defined by them. And for Dirk to lose to an 8th seed and be scrutinised and even fall into a depression over the offseason, and come back and beat the Heat and claim a Finals trophy? He made sure that he will not be remembered as a choker, but as a Legend of the sport.

[@guccigucci5002]

monta ellis baron davis matt barnes stephen jackson i loved that team

[@guccigucci5002]

j rich to

[@terrencecarter1915]

The We Believe Team. That team set up the success for the future of the Warrior's championship.

[@smoothALOE]

The 2007 playoff failure was a real kick in the pants. As much as 2006 hurt, this was downright embarrassing. Nellie absolutely outcoached AJ and it was clear, really for the entire season, that the Mavs had problems matching up with the Warriors. They were 67-15 on the year, but 0-3 against GS. This was the team that halted a franchise-best 17-game winning streak and blew out Dallas when AJ decided to rest his starters, instead of potentially keeping this team out of the post season with a win, down the stretch. I will always feel grateful for 2011. W/o it, 2006 and 2007 would be what people choose to remember about Dirk.

[@Johnny-hn9ts]

Warriors should have brought back Monta Ellis the past two seasons....Nick Young was a terrible pickup and Warriors could have used more scoring help in the Finals...

[@TheDonkeyFLOPPER]

As a Mavs fan it was hard for me to watch this. As a Mavs fan living in San Antonio no less Growing up constantly hearing how much less of a player Dirk was under Tim Duncan. So glad Dirk got his and retired a beloved player all over the world.

[@yo-yp8vj]

So are we just gonna ignore the fact that Dirk called every single person on the warriors a burger?

[@jimmythebusdriver]

I like how you learned the word "palpable" in the Weird Rules video and now want to show everyone this cool new word by using it in this video.

[@AAAAAMMM]

"This is like when I took a huge pay cut, and you used to gold on Chandler Parsons... not good..."

[@solo.3d]

Lmao game of zones

[@stevengarcia7670]

Let’s go! These are hella great, historic sports info but only just NBA & NFL lol 🙂

[@toptenguy1]

It just sounds strange to hear that "The Golden State Warriors win a First Round playoff series in a huge upset"

[@noahg4978]

Only weird if you're 12 or started watching basketball in 2015

[@c.moriarty1178]

That two-year stretch was brutal, losing in the Finals and then getting embarrassed in the first round as the #1 seed and MVP. As a Heat fan I'm not even mad about 2011. He deserved it

[@razkable]

Dirk was there for 2003 2004 2006 and 2007 heck throw in 2008 and 2010....if anyone deserves that 2011 title it's him

[@bornchampion8366]

Yo, what's The Name Of The Guy That Said The Year Of Our Lord?

[@3rdeye931]

I felt bad when this happened to him. So glad he finally got his ring in ‘11 though. :)