How Good Is Dirk Nowitzki For Sports Book Betting

The Dallas Mavericks seems to be in the spotlight in most sports book betting sites now, and we can safely say one player had carried this team for the past decade.

Many say Dallas Mavericks All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki is in what should be that “twilight” of his NBA career, but that's just if you base it solely in his years of service as a franchise player in his team.

Rick Pitino, Boston Celtics head coach from 1997 – 2001 once compared Nowitzki to Celtic's legend Larry Bird after 45 minutes of private workout where Dirk showcased his versatile shooting, passing and rebounding skills.

Dirk entered the NBA in 1998 as a 9th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks, he was then traded with Dallas Maverick's 6th pick Robert Tryalor of that same draft. Dirk then joined the captain shooting guard Michael Finley and 7'6 foot center Shawn Bradley in Mevericks whose last playoff appearance was in 1990. Nowitzki had a rough start in his first games of his career in NBA prior to 1998-99 NBA season. Standing 7 foot tall, the lanky 20-year old Dirk played as a power forward for the Mavs. But his size and shooting finesse didn't bother the athletic and muscular forwads and big men of the NBA, causing him to struggle in his shooting and being pounded in the paint by muscular big men. In his first season, Dirk only averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds for 20.4 playing time per game. Dirk was so frustrated and even admitted that he once contemplated in going back to Germany. The Mavs in that season only won 19 games of that season's 50 games schedule.

But that was all history now, as Dallas swept the defending champs in their second round in the playoffs of 2010-2011 season. Dirk looks like he's undergoing a career rejuvenation, of some sort from his 13 years in the NBA. With his athletecism, blocking, rebounding and unstippable one arm one leg elbow jumper and high-arching three point shooting, Dirk opens the debate as one of the best big men in the history of the NBA. Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle even categorized Nowitzki as one of his top 10 of all time list.

From ESPN Dallas.com:
“In my opinion, he’s a top 10 player in NBA history because of the uniqueness of his game and how he’s carried this franchise on his back for over a decade,” Carlisle told “ESPN First Take” on Monday. “He’s just right. He’s leading the team. His shot-making is great. He’s passing the ball great. He’s one of the guys that’s directing traffic for us defensively.”
Sure, Nowitzki has been the league MVP (2006-07), and he’s been the one constant on the floor during the Mavericks’ run of 11 consecutive 50-win seasons. Only the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics (1959-1968), the Magic Johnson-led Lakers (1980-91) and the Tim Duncan-led San Antonio Spurs (2000-present) have had comparable runs.
Those teams, however, won championships. Dirk has yet to win an NBA title, making his only Finals appearance in 2006 when the Mavericks lost to the Miami Heat in six games.
“He’s got one thing missing from the mantle and that drives him,” Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told ESPN 103.3 FM on Monday morning. “We’ve maybe been spoiled by how good he is.”

We've all been indulged by Nowitzki's brilliance in the hardcourt. I mean, He has been the centerpiece of a playoff caliber team for roughly the past decade. How many players have single handedly taken his team to 11 consecutive 50 win seasons? Kobe had Shaq, Lamar, Fisher, Gasol. Jordan had Pipen. Ducan has Ginobli, and Parker. Who has Dirk had throughout the years? Players have come, and players have gone in Dallas. But the level of play has remained the same. Dirk continues to put up huge numbers, especially in the playoffs. Now that he has Kidd, Terry, Chandler and Barea, I can't see the Mavericks team not getting attention in basketball online betting and not heading for the finals this season.

He may still not have the Championship ring yet, but he's surely heading to the Hall of Fame some day.