Dirk Nowitzki: Loyalty Rewarded

tonyhellberg1 — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:46:43 GMT

His coach called him a Top-10 player. Not just right now, mind you.

Of all-time.

The media wanted to shrug. They’d heard such praise tossed around before. Yes, he’d been a perennial All-Star. An All-NBAer. Maybe the best non-sports car export ever created in Germany. Perhaps even: the best shooter in the league’s modern era.

But Miami had the biggest of Big 3s. And they were finally on their championship verge, ready to deliver on nearly a year’s worth of hype.

For more than a decade, Dirk Nowitzki had amazed the masses with his shooting skills. And in this championship series, that did not change. In fact, several @nikebasketball followers remarked that his NBA 2k12 free throw rating will be a perfect 100.

The self-proclaimed “Tall Baller from the G!” seemed like he would never miss.

But the basketball universe got something else in between the endless parade of free throw line makes, rainbow jumpers and one-footed fadeaways. Fans hardcore and casual, opponents brute and gritty and fast and long, even fellow Mavericks in his own locker room watched the big German ascend to a level beyond even the one reached during the 2006-07 regular season - the one that ended with Dirk being named league MVP.

A level where numbers refuse to tell the whole story. Where greatness cannot be measured - not even by historic shooting precedent. When judgement passed on a player becomes a feeling, clutch bleeding into superiority. And fans sitting courtside, in the nosebleeds or in their own living rooms watching on big screen TVs not only know who’s getting the ball when the game’s on the line, they believe the outcome has already been decided - before the ball is even in flight.

On the opening night of the 2011-12 season, a banner will be unveiled at American Airlines Center and the Dallas players will receive their championship rings.

As the 2011 Finals MVP, Dirk will be the last name called. He will undoubtedly receive eardrum-busting cheers. And forever forward, no one will ever be able to shrug when Dirk Nowitzki’s name is mentioned among the all-time greats.

Kobe Bryant 2009 Finals MVP

GoodN81 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:19:22 GMT

With his 4th NBA Title and his first Finals MVP Award, Kobe Bryant’s 2009 dream season is complete. Some might say his road to the Larry O’Brien Trophy started in Beijing, but it began the day after the Lakers lost in the Finals last year to Boston.

From that moment on Kobe made his game truly unstoppable. He dedicating himself to defense, sustained intensity and teamwork. He dedicated his game to being smarter and quicker than the competition. His lead by example efforts helped spur Team USA to a gold finish in Beijing but that was only a glimpse of what was to come from The Black Mamba.

Throughout the regular season he furthered his work ethic and helped make everyone around him wearing the purple and gold better. 61 points in Madison Square Garden, 399 total assists in the regular season, 33 ppg in the Finals, just examples of Kobe’s elevated game.

And so it’s fitting that at the end of his 08-09 run, Kobe is recognized for the instrumental part he played in helping the Lakers franchise win their 15th NBA championship. We can only imagine what this accomplishment will lead to in the season to come as he and the Lakers defend the NBA throne.

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Dirk Nowitzki: Loyalty Rewarded

Kobe Bryant 2009 Finals MVP