The 30,000-Point Club has just welcomed Dirk Nowitzki into its fold. Dirk He has hit the mark in the second quarter of a recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers which Dallas eventually won.
Although Dirk Nowitzki becomes the sixth player on the list, he is the first international basketballer to attain the feat. The exclusive club features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.
Back in 1998, Dallas has to trade down with the Milwaukee Bucks in order to get Dirk Nowitzki at number 9. His inclusion in former Mavericks coach and general manager Nelson's revolutionary offensive system has almost immediately matched the sharpshooter's outside range and playing skills.
Initially trained by his German mentor Holger Geschwindner, Dirk Nowitzki's entry into the NBA is nothing close to the star that he has displayed over the past years. However, he has made an immediate turnaround during his second year as he raised his scoring average to 17.5 points per game.
It is also around this time that Nelson introduced a high-scoring duo when he acquired Steve Nash from the Suns and paired him with the big German. Considering Dirk Nowitzki's penchant for scoring outside, the Mavericks' pick-and-pop plays have started to flourish.
During his third year, Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 21.8 points and Dallas is on a roll to claim 11 straight 50 plus win seasons. By the time he is 23, his scoring average has climbed to 23.4 that earned him an All-Star introduction.
In 2005, Nowitzki has begun to add new repertoires to his arsenal. With Nash back in Phoenix and former point guard Avery Johnson becoming head coach, the seven-footer needs to adjust to a conventional system where his defense and low-post moves including a mid-range isolation game would soon develop.
Dirk Nowitzki has the highest-scoring year of his career with 26.6 points per game average in 2006. Dallas is in the NBA Finals for the first time but lost.
By 2007, Dirk Nowitzki's career will hit a new high as he got the regular season MVP award. However, it will be the arrival of new coach Rick Carlisle that will bring good things to the Mavericks.
While Carlisle wanted the seven-footer to play a structured approach, he has allowed Dirk Nowitzki to thrive by playing the big German's offensive game. In 2011, Dallas eventually snared its first NBA championship trophy.
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