Throwback Highlights: When Dirk Nowitzki DESTROYED Kevin Garnett’s Defense in a Playoff Series Sweep

[@TheDustin151]

I was so glad I got to watch Dirk from start to finish.

[@padz41tv43]

same

[@PIP...33]

@@padz41tv43 YEAH DERANGED U MEAN WAGON IN FINLEY'S TEAM

[@bigred9991]

Ditto - I never understood the hate this man would get before he finally broke through and got a ring. I tried telling people back then that he revolutionized the game. There was never a 7 footer that could move and shoot like him and now when you look around the league having a stretch 4 is a necessity if you're going to be successful. 2nd best PF to ever play behind Timmy.

[@PIP...33]

@@bigred9991 HE DID WHAT ?? U MEAN TYSON CHANDLER GAVE HIM RING. DIRK HATE IS FOR REASON GUY HAD SUPERTEAM WITH NASH FINLEY SINCE DAY 1.

[@davidares286]

@@PIP...33if that's the case, why didn't tyson chandler gave carmelo and jr smith a ring?

[@geraldwallace5513]

Watching Dirk drill those tough 3s in a era where big men are supposed to be in thepost, is so satisfying. Thank you Dirk for bringing Dallas a ring. I would watch the games alone because my family doesn’t like basketball so when we won they were confused why I was jumping in joy at the time. Truly a a legend in Dallas 🎉

[@peterspa2252]

I'm also so happy that he won one ring and did not retire without a championship. He is probably the best athlete that Germany ever had. For example, Boris Becker, Michael Schuhmacher, Franz Beckenbauer are heros as well because their sports are more popular in Germany. But I rate Dirk's career achievements higher than Becker's or Schumacher's.

[@SH2K9]

Also named to the 75th Anniversary Team - which is literally the NBA "Goat List".

[@AndrewL31413]

People seem to forget how mobile and athletic Dirk was in the first half of his career. 7 footers didn’t move like him back then.

[@wyzzkyd.]

No day at all, Dirk is the greatest big man to play this game in every position. He is the one who birth the coming of the Joker. the joker just doesn't move as agile as him. Only Kevin Durant came close to dirk moves but he is shorter than dirk but you get the picture.

[@minnesotafats8140]

Underrated athleticism

[@jotac87278]

They still can't shoot like him

[@Paul-폴]

he is a much better Kevin Durant Dirk> Durant

[@madisonbordenave4869]

Def disagree. Dirk was never a supreme athlete. U can even see in these highlights that he’s pretty slow and can barely jump off the ground. What sets him apart to me is his overall feel for the game, guile, and shooting skill combined with footwork. Once he got into his bag there wasn’t anything anyone could do to keep him from getting his shot off and he created just enough separation to be unbothered by contests

[@dmb0940]

elbow sleeve dirk was a monster!

[@BrutusJrThe3rd]

Bro, post ups (face up or back to basket), fades over either shoulder, can handle, can catch & shoot,☝🏾dribble pull-up,✌🏾dribble pull-ups, pump fakes , can get to the cup & bring the ball up on the fast break, at 7’0”. Had to rewatch this because I forgot how good Dirk was in his prime. Legend 🙌🏾

[@healthfadsfade]

Dirks strip of the ball when needed is one of the most underrated things ever

[@snowman300]

He had the most steals in a game one season with 9!

[@OCHitters]

His post D 1 on 1 was decent. He just wasn't gonna help the helper at a high clip and when he was caught in the switch he would get torched. But one on one he could hold the post decent

[@PIP...33]

@@snowman300 he never had 9 steals only wilt, gary payton stockton iverson kendall gill had more than 8 steals u deranged

[@Rr-j4x]

​​@@OCHitterskg was a shot blocker on 2nd line defense but he wasnt as good as dirk on strips and intimidating the opponent. its a fair trade off. scoring machine with decent defense is already great. shot blocking was the job of center anyways

[@ball1slife107]

Kg was a wayyyy better defender, dirk was a better scorer though. Let’s not act like dirk was more intimidating on defense

[@johncarolina4950]

Omg, he was giving those boys buckets in ways they didn't even realize was possible yet. You can almost see his effect on how GMs built a team and evaluated talent happening in real time here

[@Theworkingtitle7]

For the next decade+ every team was trying to draft the "next DIrk"

[@PIP...33]

@@Theworkingtitle7 DIRK HAD SUPERTEAM GARNETT LITERALLY HELP ON EVERY TEAM MATE CAUSE NESTEROVIC WALLY OR BILLUPS CANT DEFEND ANYONE. KG CARRY GUYS WHO CANT SCORE 15 PTS. MEANWHILE GOOGLE VAN EXEL 42 POINTS FROM BENCH CARRY NOWITZKI VS SACRAMENTO. LITERALLY BENCH NICK WAS HIGHER RATING THAN ALL KG'S STARTERS

[@PIP...33]

@@Theworkingtitle7 NO ONE TRY TO DRAFT DIRK. JOKIC IS LAST PICK ON DRAFT U DERANGED

[@Theworkingtitle7]

@@PIP...33 Shows how little you know about the league's history. Bargnani, Vessly, Jianlian, and on and on. So many failed draft picks trying to find the "Next Dirk"

[@PIP...33]

@@Theworkingtitle7 showed that u r deranged. ONLY BARGNANI WAS TOP PICK U ACT LIKE TEAMS DRAFTING THEM TOP 5 EVERY YEAR. LAST TIME I CHECK JOKIC WAS SELECT LAST DESPITE HE WAS LIKE DIRK

[@JReyes624]

Dirk's 2011 championship run was one of the most impressive things I've seen any NBA player do. My brother and I called him "NoQuitSki" during that finals series after he carried his team while being sick.

[@BoosterGoldEarth6]

Overrated dude had help.

[@jdogexceeder1820]

Yep best individual performance in finals history against LeFraud

[@JohnnyRanks-s7z]

@@jdogexceeder1820You wouldn’t call him LeFraud to his face lol. You would ask him for his autograph or picture

[@younglove3362]

Only because it was against Lebanon. Cut the crap. Dirk was never as good as Garnett.

[@treezalinidelgato]

heis in my top 5for sure...he and kg both lol...as well as kobe, ai,and duncan

[@cognomarcelo]

Dirk was dropping NBA 2K stat sheets on a Top 3 defender of his era, in playoffs. He was just different.

[@richardenriquez8449]

Only see Curry and Bird shoot like Dirk in the close out game. As PJ reported, the crowd was moaning when Dirk attempted a bucket. KG was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the #6 all-time scorer in NBA history.

[@chauvintookaknee4blm268]

​@@richardenriquez8449curry can't closeout. He stat padded against sac. Refs let him flop

[@CamberRockerCamber]

​​@@leonard9624 9 time 1st team All Defense from 2000 to 2011. 2nd team defense the other years. Defensive player of the year in 2008. Sounds like a legitimate case for a top 3 defender to me.

[@kfazo3174]

@@leonard9624he’s top 3 pf of all time

[@ItsMeStrider]

@@leonard9624 name 3 better defenders than KG that era, I'll wait

[@rabd3721]

"At least that shot hit part of the rim" "Yeah he's slumping now" 🤣🤣🤣

[@dasgre0g]

I was at several of the playoff games against Minnesota many many years ago. Dirk absolutely outplayed KG on every level. Michael Finley had a couple fantastic games as well. Thank you for this.

[@PIP...33]

YEAH AND AL HARRINGTON OUTPLAYED DIRK 8TH SEED VS 1ST

[@imhotepnixon]

@@PIP...33that was Al’s best performance and Dirks worst performance so that should tell you all you need to know

[@JonathanWoodall]

@@imhotepnixon lol cuz everyone remembers that time Al Harrington carried a vet team to the NBA title and beat the Heatles. dude above you is one of the few dirk haters ive ever seen

[@PIP...33]

@@JonathanWoodall no but everyone know tyson chandler and marion held LEBRON ON 8 PTS U DERANGED

[@PIP...33]

@@JonathanWoodall DIRK CARRY ?? WHY HE DIDNT DO 2012 ? BECAUSE CUBAN TRADED GUY WHO GAVE HIM RING TYSON CHANDLER U DERANGED

[@georgekirby7150]

Dirk was a menace

[@zinktomas8251]

Funny how most people don’t remember that Dirk actually obliterated KG in their one on one playoff matchups

[@Checompa]

and yet 2k always favors Garnett when I sim games lol

[@m3gusta17]

it's cuz people are casuals

[@patrickruffin8464]

I say this all the time

[@Paul-폴]

this! even before 2011 Dallas championship I rank Dirk ahead of KG in all time ranks

[@PIP...33]

@@Paul-폴 U MEAN 2007 WHEN AL HARRINGTION 8TH SEED SWEPT DIRK ? OR IVERSON AVERAGE 40 PPG VS MJ IN CAREER ? EVEN BEFORE U WERE DERANGED U WAS

[@FullyLooted]

Dirks accuracy was unbelievable. I remember he went like 30/31 one game. Honestly unbelievable

[@LdotSdot210]

dirk was such a joy to watch man. it's crazy that he's really known for shooting but in this you really get to see the physicality in his game too.

[@JasonLee-xg5ki]

been saying this for years... Dirk owned KG, regular season and playoffs.

[@jinathonaimmons2642]

i followed Dirk journey when i was a teenager and i cry when he retired because his my idol . I miss DIRK the way he play . I pay nba league pass back then not to miss every dallas mavs game. Still im a MFFL and hopefully LUKA follow the step of Dirk of loyal to my team Dallas.

[@normmac953]

Dirk, without a doubt, is one of the best big man shooters in NBA history. He would score just about anywhere on the floor. Not just in the paint like the majority of most big men. If you look at his career 3 pointers vs big men of similar size, there is no comparison. Definitely earned his nomination into the Hall of Fame!

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

The eye-opener here was that, as a Mavs fan who watched almost all of Dirk's games over his career, I somehow thought of his strip move as something he developed later in career. This is early in his career, and he's doing it every fourth highlight.

[@m3gusta17]

same here man, I was always under the impression Dirk developed that move later on, and he's out here ripping the ball from prime KG.

[@csy9366]

He played tennis and handball before he played basketball. That's why he has quick hands.

[@igotseoul7744]

He got it from Malone. Karl basically was punishing Dirk his first couple years with that quick slap down

[@ultimateyagerman]

​@@m3gusta17unfortunately those same strip attempts was used against him to give Wade FTs to defend their 1 pt leads in 2006

[@PureGreggy]

That series was so fixed it makes me sick to think of it. @@ultimateyagerman

[@Turk_2023]

Van Exle, Nash, Finley Dirk..... My favorite was watching Mavs vs Kings in this era

[@xtYao]

Doing gods work here, Panda

[@nader91]

this is some great, great basketball. i'll never get tired of watching the 2000s playoffs, especially the western conference.

[@wyzzkyd.]

shooting 70+ % in a playoff series is God Mode no jokes for a PF/C

[@PIP...33]

YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@emersonssbb]

@@PIP...33 So what he guarded finley nash and dirk. He was a goose egg in the offense only had 15 points for a Superstar such as Garnett.

[@RandomStuffFreak]

@@PIP...33 u dont need to scream like that

[@PIP...33]

@@emersonssbb GARNETT IS NOT SCORER U DERANGED. POINTS MEANS NOTHING.

[@PIP...33]

@@RandomStuffFreak CRY MORE DERANGED

[@Getdown8319]

Dirks era of basketball is the greatest talent in one era at the PF position in history. That western conference at the position was a gauntlet to go through go look at the competition during his career that he faced in their primes it’s actually crazy.

[@maartenvz]

Absolutely, Duncan, Webber, kg, gasol, stoudemire/marion, Lewis (he is not on the same level of course but also one of the earlier stretch fours), odom, boozer, brand, Randolph, Wallace, mcdyess (both early in his career)

[@jadepowell5178]

​@@maartenvzlol I was thinking hard to see if you missed any lol, looks like a pretty good list

[@andzc9230]

@@maartenvzwallace randolph

[@214Ro]

These highlights need to be playing 24/7 at the AAC

[@adamf224]

the shooting splits are insane💀

[@pharaoh6625]

This is why this is my favorite Mavs account on KZbin 😂🔥

[@justlovenohate4662]

hear hear! @PandaHank41 FTW!

[@PIP...33]

YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@rorydougherty]

“Billups did nothing as usual”. Stop it. Chauncey Billups was a finals MVP, nearly a back to back finals MVP, and literally outplayed Kobe and Shaq AND Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in back to back finals… looks like he did a little bit more than nothing. SMH

[@PIP...33]

@@rorydougherty REALLY DERANGERED , SO U SAYING IGUODALA IS BETTER PLAYER THAN KARL MALONE. 4 RINGS 1 FINAL MVP. IF BILLUPS IS MVP WHERE IS HE IN 75 GOAT ??

[@PIP...33]

@@rorydougherty BILLUPS OUTPLAYEDE U MEAN BEN WALLACE DEFENDED CSHAQ U DEANGED. EVERYONE KNOWS BEN IS MVP. WHERE IS BILLUPS IN 75 HOF LIST ?? NASH IS !!

[@jc76109]

This is my go-to video to educate nephews on social media. Thanks, PandaHank41. You're the best!

[@peteyly]

Panda knows what we need

[@andrewmitchell3283]

I was going to like your comment, but then I stopped when I saw it was at 41 likes!

[@onlythingicouldthink]

I can't believe anybody would ever put KG over Dirk all time. My boi changed the game and cooked KG constantly from the inside out.

[@PIP...33]

DIRK HAD SUPERTEAM GARNETT LITERALLY HELP ON EVERY TEAM MATE CAUSE NESTEROVIC WALLY OR BILLUPS CANT DEFEND ANYONE. KG CARRY GUYS WHO CANT SCORE 15 PTS. MEANWHILE GOOGLE VAN EXEL 42 POINTS FROM BENCH CARRY NOWITZKI VS SACRAMENTO. LITERALLY BENCH NICK WAS HIGHER RATING THAN ALL KG'S STARTERS

[@PIP...33]

REALLY DERANGED IMBESILE

[@HungarianDerrickRose]

@@PIP...33 OK nephew.

[@crazywildman]

@@PIP...33 dirk had super team?????? i want to know what u been smoking...

[@TV-ob1if]

@@PIP...33is English your second language

[@thamor4746]

Dirk was sneaky athletic, he didn't show his full speed until he actually went for a forceful drive otherwise he just used his size and shooting to make the buckets. So that caught almost always defenders offguard when he put the ball on the floor.

[@kornwhiskey95]

As a Maverick fan I want to say thank you for this post. I remember this series but sometimes fans forget and don't appreciate how good Dirk was until his career was over. Looking at this video I knew he balled out but he actually destroyed them!! Thank you agian

[@TheRandomAsianGuy14]

I was looking for that clip of Billups. Ty Panda!

[@masterscaron]

Bro that shot is so pure.

[@ojigiehon8456]

this is so crazy cause i never knew this is really how he played. i only watched the old decrepit dirk lol. if you woulda asked me who i’d take KG or him before i watched this video i woulda said KG but i didn’t realize he had this level of athleticism and mobility and i didn’t understand the level of his shot making and pure shooting really was. this is crazy. if you don’t contest him at the rim he really my dunk on you. never knew he had this ability fr

[@alitidda4752]

the way he makes his opponent always occupy off and with the ball perfection

[@jrev8089]

Dirk played for so long, I forgot he had quickness and could jump in his earlier days. I was surprised when he went in for the dunk a couple times.

[@younglove3362]

He went in for dunks because he had Steve Nash feed him and set him up.

[@ARKIBOYTV]

​@@younglove3362nah. When he was young. He blew past by defenders and dunk

[@raheemshabazz9577]

He was giving them crazy work

[@deni8814]

When Garnett doesnt mention Dirk in his top 5 power forwards lists, its almost personal, we all know as Mavs fans how hard Dirk would cook him, so when Rasheed Wallace is above Dirk, Garnett knows he was Dirks bitch boy

[@jasonsandhu3760]

Exactly !!!!!

[@ashishkhatri2771]

He doesn't put him in his top 5? That's clowning. I put Dirk as the best offensive big man in league history, not counting guys who are still playing.

[@bigred9991]

​@@ashishkhatri2771Dirk is the 2nd greatest PF of all-time. Timmy is #1. People don't realize in Dirks prime he was averaging 27ppg on insane efficiency. I think he only had 1 or 2 seasons where he averaged over 20 shots per game. He played 21 seasons.

[@Keepcalm-lovesports]

​@@ashishkhatri2771Shaq, Wilt and Kareem would like a word (at least)

[@ashishkhatri2771]

@@Keepcalm-lovesports I never saw the latter two play, but the first one couldn't even stay on the floor during clutch time. Dirk was better.

[@iamchaunceman]

Dirk was undefeated against KG and Kobe in the playoffs. Anyone who said KG was better than Dirk never watched them play. Dirk was HIM before HIM. And one of 4 players to average 25/10 in playoffs for career. The only player that could stop Dirk, was Dirk.

[@mavssami41]

Thankuu! Too many call him soft yet in his prime playoff days he averaged 27 and 11

[@jasonsandhu3760]

And 7-0 vs pau gasol too

[@Soopology]

Lol, during Kobe’s prime years, they never matched up.

[@younglove3362]

Anyone say Dirk was better than KG never watched them play. 🙄

[@MattStevens9824]

Dirk's game even in today's NBA would still be sought after. He'll kill it. Dirk shooting threes with an unstoppable fall away in mid-range can pretty much draw defenders. from inside and outside the paint.

[@joejesus9902]

Absolutely

[@seim6654]

Dirk gamestyle is so unique a big man with great footwork that likes posting up and going for the mid range shot that could score 3's, It kinda reminds me how Kobe scores when shooting mid range.

[@Spider-Complexion]

Dirk on offense is one of the best players ever and especially for his size it was crazy. He was like a MJ/Kobe/Kd with the guard-like moves he could do and while still being a 7 footer with crazy shooting ability 🤯

[@boxball9157]

highlight was like a video game. dirk leading a transition breaK, hezi at the stripe nd proceeds to nail a tear drop lol

[@thekidjwt]

KG still big mad at 🐐. Never mentions him with other great PFs.

[@mavssami41]

Bro never never does....he brings up sheed more than dirk🤬

[@allenxavier6073]

the dude is still traumatized from all the torture that Dirk puts him through

[@deni8814]

Brothers dont like when these European players come in and start cooking them, same is happening with Jokic now, Garnett would rather mention a player that averaged 16 a game then Dirk who was dropping 30 on tmhim every night.

[@mavssami41]

@@deni8814 👏👏👏

[@joesmith-hm6cr]

The goat ? Lmao he a garbage player compared to Tim Duncan lmao

[@MarMaxGaming]

Dirk was nasty! And so pure

[@NickPR87]

People think Dirk was a bad defender and that wasn't the case. He was very good at positional defense and using his body and length to get deflections and bother opposing bigs, he just didn't have the quantitiesstats like blocks and defensive rebounds; but that's because he was looking to get back for open shots and positioning in the paint early into possessions. Him and Jokic have a very similar way of playing defense, while being tasked with a massive responsibility on offense .

[@BrianDonato]

Dirk was a solid defender most of his career ... bigs practically never went off against Dallas, it was always guards and wings. Even in the 2011 playoffs, Aldridge, Gasol, Bosh were all mediocre vs. Dirk

[@Casper0123]

The rim sound brings me back those times. It sounded just gooood

[@Mark-xl1ze]

Dirk's career playoff record against KG, Kobe and Pau Gasol is a combined 15-0. Wow.

[@El.Nigga.]

Pau

[@Hatedj]

what other useless stat do you have for us? 😂🌹

[@timboshanghai6785]

u are useless@@Hatedj

[@sampam8577]

So how come Kobe has 5 and Dirk has 1. The math ain’t adding up, I’m not sure your right.

[@ballinboxer3676]

@@sampam8577 They didn't face the Mavs when they won the championships and Dirk lost in the next rounds after beating KG/Lakers. That should be basic math you dummy

[@scheffrocker23]

Could watch it all day❤

[@akonu23]

I think I teared up Panda.. thank you 🤟🏾🤟🏾

[@1VgBot]

Dirk was a walking bucket. Triple threat connoisseur! Gives it to you however you want it.

[@L77kaMagic817]

His shot is art. On another note--a sad note--we are still rocking some of these same unis and have the same logo decades later.

[@landonlogsdon490]

We're never gonna move on from the Dirk era. Keep the unis. Dirk made them classic.

[@ericheffner112]

​@@landonlogsdon490Right. We have alternatives every season anyway!

[@ericheffner112]

I'm 50 years in the game and I remember this series. Dirk was bustin' KGs ass to the point that he hit Dirk on a drive that was a dirty play. He tried to intemidate Dirk and get in his face afterwards, but my dude Michael Finley jumped right in the middle of it. Finley got in KGs ass so hard that he backed off. He was a deer in headlights and shook as shit. KG tried to pick on guys that he felt would fold... a little guy like Nash. I live in Dallas but I'm originally from Chicago. Finley was born and raised in Chicago. KG is originally from South Carolina and was recruited and moved to Chicago. KG ain't 'bout that life. He was a fraud in terms of being a tough guy. I went to the 1st regular season game the following season and before tip-off they showed the Finley/KG confrontation on the jumbo tron. Loved how Cuban and the crew decided to kick off the season on that note. I hope it's on YT somewhere.

[@Damianoutlaw]

@@ericheffner112there are a ton of players like Tim Duncan, Kenyon Martin, Dirk, Udonis Haslem that have always been able to see right through Kevin Garnetts fake tough guy persona

[@PIP...33]

@@Damianoutlaw YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@---zg7ex]

i remember prior to this cook, dirk was dominated by KG in the last playoff year. and just 1 year later, the story has changed!

[@allencastro9344]

LMAO, Dirk is cooking this dude in iso

[@ascales30]

Yessir!!! and KG is my guy. Dirk and Duncan would give him fits! I remember going to the games in Dallas and telling my wife "Watch Garnett not play..." use to piss me off. Then one year while he was with Boston, she got me tickets to the Spurs game. We drove to San Antonio and he still didn't play. I said "look a this bullshit!"😆 But a Dirk was true beast and you couldn't do nothing with that shot.

[@justlovenohate4662]

Wow, didn't know he had 73% 3pt percentage in this series. Almost a 90-70-50? Dang..

[@imhotepnixon]

@@PIP...33DUDE CHILL

[@PIP...33]

CHILL DERANGED DENY MY FACTS.@@imhotepnixon

[@PIP...33]

@@imhotepnixon I LIKE HOW DERANGED CANT DENY MY FACTS JUST MAKES GARNETT BILLION TIMES BETTER THAN DIRK

[@PIP...33]

@@imhotepnixon U DO REALIZE IVERSON AVERAGE 40 PPG VS MJ IN CAREER U DERANGED

[@mandark5789]

​@@PIP...33Dude where did you get that numbers. You know MJ 7-6 against Iverson and he didn't average 40ppg against MJ. He average 29ppg on horrible fg%.

[@secretzerep5945]

Its crazy after rewatching the 2023 NBA finals then watch this oh my goodness Dirk here is like the Jokic of the 2023 just less of an Passing Rebounding and Murray but the domination in a perimeter the vibe is very the same

[@_spaceman]

To me, that's cinema

[@jekubb4348]

its damn near impossible to stop someone with that kind of touch! a legit 7ft with that kind of feel for the game is insane!

[@_spaceman]

KG didnt want any of that smoke

[@johnpaul8938]

KG dont want any smoke lol. Dude is a fraud

[@PIP...33]

YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@dazdavis7896]

This is when Dirk took over as the man in Dallas. Before that, even at the beginning of that season, it was still Michael Finley. But this was Dirk just entering his hay day and Finley at the end of his. This is when he rly established himself.

[@johnpaul8938]

People keep putting KG over Dirk when in fact Dirk’s Dallas kept on winning every season while Garnett was just stat padding 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@PIP...33]

YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@PIP...33]

YEAH DERANGED WHAT DALLAS WON ?? WHERE WAS DIRK 1ST SEED VS AL HArrington 8th seed 2007 ?

[@JVlano]

Dirk was in the playoffs thru the whole 2000’s.. been a big gamer for a long time. Glad I got to watch first hand starting from 06 when he took out Duncan in his building in G7. 15 years old, I remember watching that Finals run rooting for him just cause of who he went thru to get there. Dirks fadeaway or Kareem’s hook??

[@dirkswish31]

This is what KG's fans cant accept that their idol was shitted by Dirk during their playoffs matches. They said KG was so much better because of his defense well it's nowhere to be found during their matchups lol 😁

[@themostrandom8424]

True, and people still have the audacity to claim KG is far better when even stats tells Dirk is more better. Funny is how they always says defense wins championship and KG is elite defender blah blah blah but hey in their 21 years career Dirk has more wins and less loses than KG yet still more people believe KG over Dirk lol.

[@rapsack7058]

WHat these guys and many others dont get, that Dirk was defense wise not a weakness you could exploit. He did an ok job. Noas exeptional and TD or KG but you could not go against him and hope to win the game. I think may of them have not seen him before 2013.

[@allencastro9344]

That's all they had going for him, that overrated defense that gets exposed by Dirk everytime they go against each other

[@Damianoutlaw]

Fans of Kevin Garnett live in denial when it comes to Dirk being better than KG

[@toyranch]

And now they have KAT, it must be terrible to be a Wolves fan.

[@craigburnett6099]

Thanks for the video. Well done. Dirk was so fun to watch. He had such quick hands. I miss the guy. If only he was at his peak today w Lively, Kyrie, THJ, Luka. It’s ok to dream isn’t it. One of my all time great memories, other than the championship series, is Dirks last game. The team kept feeding him. He would still hit shot after shot. I remember the Sunday afternoon retirement. Barkley, Bird, great things they said about our Dallas treasure. Forever.

[@jackofalltrades123]

Their has never been a person in the league as unique as dirk nowitzki

[@jan279]

I'd argue Steph is just as unique, we've never really seen a guy before or since with Steph's overall skillset, man is like Allen Iverson & Reggie Miller rolled into one guy.

[@gullintanni]

Larry Bird was more unique cause he could pass as well. Only Jokic has ever come close to his uniqueness.

[@TheIcemanthomas]

Not true. There’s been a lot of very unique talents. Moses Malone is one that comes to mind. Ralph Sampson, pistol Pete, wilt, Wes unseld, Rodman, Charles Barkley, jokic, Giannis, Yao, and I’d throw Kareem in there as well.

[@angelvaldez8433]

Most of those guys are not champions. I'm not a hater but I'm afraid they will be lost to history. In 100 years and 100 new champions will anyone remember Malone or Barkley?

[@user-wi3lg1rz8f]

@@angelvaldez8433 Malone was Champion with the Sixers

[@Jstrikez300]

Damn I miss those Mavs day's great time to be a fan

[@stephenpega7703]

It's not just KG, even TD was outplayed most of the time by Dirk.

[@rapsack7058]

If you look, most pssesions wether TD nor KG were assigned against Dirk as defender. Coaches known that Dirk was to quick for them

[@Goxilla]

@@rapsack7058 yea young Dirk was so agile for a 7-footer

[@TheDonkeyFLOPPER]

@@rapsack7058yea Bruce Bowen did a lot of the defense against dirk when he was a spur.

[@joshseiz4233]

@@TheDonkeyFLOPPER And sliding his foot under Dirk everytime he shot

[@PIP...33]

@@rapsack7058 YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@tevonjones8508]

The editing on this video is AMAZING ! To tell the story first, then the video evidence as proof felt like I was watching a GREAT crime show. #WellDone

[@PandaHank41]

Thank you so much for the high praise! 😊

[@KidBakz]

Damn Dirk had so many tips and deflections that series, playing like a guard lmao

[@l3ftie578]

fr he had rly active hands

[@PIP...33]

@@l3ftie578 YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@bubbles1525_]

Underrated

[@wyzzkyd.]

Dirk gave Chauncey Billups that turn around spin step 3 Pointer after he had him stumbling, Like who are you Fam you can't stop me Bro. hahaha

[@ikembaojore3877]

Man they had the future 2 time mvp in Nash at PG. I would have love to see them play there careers together...

[@wolfgangsebastian8357]

To a lesser extent, this is like the debate between MJ and the other guy. Dirk has always been better than KG. Both have one ring but Dirk did it with a lot less help, and he's got one more finals appearance. Statistically, KG is better defensively but that's about it. Dirk beats him on everything else.

[@rayquizo]

and who

[@joshliggins-lk8gj]

But mj is also statistically better than the other guy too unless u mean accumulated stats.

[@rogerjohnson586]

Dirk always been better that's cap it took dirk to get tough and stop shooting 15 threes a game and dirk has some of the greatest players on his team they always had a 12 man roster

[@life0093]

They both have 2 finals appearances. If KG doesn’t get hurt in 09, it’s probably 3. He had a lot of help in 2011

[@alchemist_one]

Wilt's stats were actually pretty unreachable.

[@12warn]

I love KZbin for solely this reason because I can always bring up the proof that the players I grew up with were straight hoopers.

[@IknowMoreThanYou]

KG was a prototype,: a big man who could play LIKE a guard and do a bit of everything Dirk WAS a GUARD who was 7 ft tall It's like when ppl tried to compare AD to giannis; AD has some ball skills FOR a BIG man and CAN look like a guard at times; Giannis is literally a slashing combo PG in a big mans body-- tha't why Dirk and giannis can get anywhere on the court with their handles Of course dirk is the superior shooter; he's a top 10 shooter of all time

[@isaacd35]

I mean he couldn't stop nobody could, dirk was a monster

[@markbay9275]

Dirk is still the best Mav of all time

[@drj41accent]

Thank you panda you're the best.

[@danraul9759]

All NBA casuals ignore this in the modern media and pretend it never happened 😂

[@PIP...33]

YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@PIP...33]

NO DERANGED ONLY CASUAL ARE DIRK FAN WHO HAD SUPERTEAM FROM DAY 1

[@imhotepnixon]

@@PIP...33you’re delusional

[@Soopology]

I just think they don’t remember or didn’t see this my guy 😂

[@onlyfacts3178]

@@PIP...33 SUPERTEAM??? FINLEY was the most overrated player in that ERA...BALL HOG who shoot horrible FG%...

[@mavssami41]

At the 5:27 mark dirk just stares at the defender the flew by him after he made the shot! Nasty👏🤣

[@Jaded1221]

People dont know how good dirk is even before the 2011 season. Dirk is cooking all the best defender on his era.

[@bryant475]

Yep, there were only a few players who could guard him decently- one of the most underrated was Andrei Kirilenko (AK47)!

[@The_Why_Pod]

KG: "not in my day..." Dirk: "hold my beer"

[@padz41tv43]

dirk is the reason why i started watching basketball since my childhood,the moment he carry the Mavs team to a championship is so fulfilling well deserve for all his efforts...hope he teach luka how to be humble and specially free throws hehe😁😁😁 love them both

[@justlovenohate4662]

eyy.. same here. the first game i saw was mavs vs michael jordan's wizards

[@Peter-tg9zv]

Prime Dirk probably the best offensive PF weapon ever. I’d put KG at even with him all time due to his defense. Duncan is the best PF I ever saw. He made domination look so casual it was boring.

[@manegrindshard]

Dirk was jokic with a quick pull up, tighter handle and first step quickness. Jokic got him on the passing though.

[@StevenEvens7125]

Beautifully done!

[@waynesulak1488]

Would have loved it if this video had the clip of Garnett talking trash before the series about how he was going shut Dirk down. Garnett talked a ba lot of trash while Dirk put up big numbers. Dirk will always be tied to Garnett because they were both young 7 footers at the same time. He also will be tied to Paul Pierce who Dallas passed on to pick Dirk. Garnett and Pierce could only win a title by teaming up in Boston with Ray Allen.

[@PIP...33]

YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@Soopology]

Please remember that Dirk was trashed for a LONG time by the media for never winning. Nobody lost as a favorite as much as Dirk’s teams. Dirk deserves a lot of credit for sticking around but don’t act like it destined for him to win.

[@PIP...33]

@@Soopology WHAT CREDIT ?? U MEAN TYSON CHANDLER AND MATRIX CREDIT ?? DIRK PUT EMPTY STATS LIKE MJ WITHOUT PIPPEN.

[@keithgardner4505]

Thanks for the video. Dirk really raised his game during the playoffs. Maybe you can show a similar video vs Pau Gasol or Tim Duncan?

[@jasonhughes8986]

Dirk didn't dominate KG as a "great defender". He dominated him as a "clutch" and "underrated" defender. KG has even admitted underestimating Dirk way too much early in his career.

[@JonPaul404]

This series is when i knew kg wasn’t him. I believe last game dirk started 12-12 in 1st half on kg. Killin. Rasheed gave kg the biz too in 2000 1st rd

[@csy9366]

Those new NBA fans don't know how good Dirk was.

[@PIP...33]

YEAH CAUSE KG DEFENDED FINLEY NASH AND DIRK. BILLUPS DID NOTHING LIKE USUAL. HE SHOULD THANX BEN WALLACE FOR GUARDING SHAQ OTHERWISE BILLUPS IS BUST FIRST 4 YEARS 5 TEAMS KICKED HIM OUT

[@ultimateyagerman]

Yup That's why I dont respect basketball opinions from someone 15-20 yrs younger than me

[@PIP...33]

YOUR OPINION ?? U HAVE ANIME AS An profile pic u never saw Finley superstar you watched Dirk in2k video game dude is not even top 10 PF EVER@@ultimateyagerman

[@ultimateyagerman]

@@PIP...33 your birthyear starts with a 2 💀 Move along little guy 💀

[@PIP...33]

deranged MY ERA DIDNT HAD ANIMES. YOUR PICTURE PROVED U NEVER SAW DALLAS BECAUSE U R BORN 2010@@ultimateyagerman

[@RoundEyeKirra]

Garnett wasnt even guarding Dirk for 70% of these plays

[@45ginola]

For me it's not even close. Unlike KG fleeing to Boston, Dirk did not run to a big market team to get his ring. He stayed with Dallas and the year he lead them to the championship, he was the lone all star on that team and got the FMVP unlike KG. With a 38 years old J Kidd and a role player in Jason Terry as his best teammates. When you take everything into account including the intangibles and leadership, Dirk is miles ahead of KG.

[@m3gusta17]

Garnett wouldn't have led that 2011 Mavs squad to a championship if he'd had 5 chances to do so, much less against the freaking Heatles. People who don't put respect on Dirk's name are dumb as rocks.

[@voodoodiecast]

And somehow people will still say KG because “defense” lol KG does have more talent that includes passing but Dirk’s offense and leadership prevailed and ultimately has a better career and legacy than KG.

[@itisnottaken4444]

“KG fleeing Boston to a big market team” Since when is Boston seen as a big market??? And KG didn’t flee, he was traded after the wolves failed countless times in building any sort of team around him. They even got draft picks taken away because of Joe Smith which set them back even more.

[@minnesotafats8140]

0:51 and a nice block by Dirk

[@m9ch15l]

Back when wings r too short and bigs r too slow for him

[@DDavidDVD]

That Mavs team low key would dominate in today’s game; pace, shooting, IQ, unselfishness. Nash and Dirk are lights out, NVX and Finley both can shot and create off the dribble.

[@mavsman9018]

41 🐐

[@cbtrece76]

I grew up in LA and was a huge Lakers fan, but my first jersey I ever bought as a kid was Dirk’s. My friends would clown me, but I just loved his style of play. I didn’t care. I still have this jersey, with the letters all faded. When he got his ring I was so happy for him, and Dallas and their fans. Well deserved. Dirk is definitely one of the greatest players to ever play the sport.