Said it once before but I think it bears repeating. He sparred with Yao and beat Tim Duncan in his prime. He beat Kobe, the Thunder’s Big Three, and the Heatles. The man was a headhunter. And added to what what he went through in the video makes his championship all the sweeter.
It’s not fair, poor 26 year-old Lebron had no help against a boomer Mavs superteam led by 40 year olds, 4 foot tall JJ Barea, and another short dude who liked to act like a plane.. Technically the 2011 finals results doesn’t count and Lebron won!
@@ChiTownOriginator LMA was still growing into a great player and had just made his first all NBA team, BRoy was already a 3x All Star and 2x All NBA. We were really robbed of someone that could've been one of the best of the decade
Yes. I flashed back to that when Curry dissolved in tears after winning in 2022 and Tatum choked up this year. These guys put a ton of pressure on themselves and work their asses off for years to get tot those moments.
Its ironic that dirk has went to the finals and lost and redeemed himself and in his last season he passes the torch to someone that played in the euro league and has now lost in the finals and is wanting to redeem himself ....time will tell if the story rewrites itself ❤️ all mavericks fans hope so
He had a run for the ages in 2011. It was painful as a Laker fan to be on the end of it. But Dirk overcame Roy, Kobe, Harden, Durant, Westbrook, Bosh, Wade, and Lebron. He slayed 4 mvps. Truly the greatest European NBA player.
Dirk was never soft. He was finesse. There's a difference. It's disrespectful to call any athlete soft. You don't get to this level to be Dirk level good especially if you're soft
I think soft in the context of basketball and soft physically in general are two different things And you absolutely cannot say Dirk was soft, but you can say he was soft in basketball terms
He absolutely was soft. He flopped too like a lot of Euro players coming over did. Ironic American born players do it all the time now and take it even further than even flop god Vlade Divac did.
Harden isn’t a choker, he’s just a finesse player who doesn’t get benefits of a whistle in the playoffs that he gets in the regular season. See how that works? Two things can be true at the same time
At any point, during script edits, did anyone mention it wasn't just an NBA title, it was a title won against the most unstoppable villains in the NBA, The not 1 not 2 not 3 Heatles. That is an integral part of what made him teflon. Love me some SB, but yall dropped the ball on that highly impactful narrative.
Should have mentioned that was LeBron's first year in Miami, following "The Decision". He made going to the Heat such a big deal with the rest of the "Big Three". And it wasn't just talk; they went 12-3 in the Eastern conference playoffs on their way to the finals. They just looked like some unstoppable juggernaut. And then Dirk happened
@@darrendent8288 The East was weak BECAUSE of LeBron. He wasn't lucky. Teams knew they were drawing dead so nobody wanted to go all in. LeBron owned the East for a Decade. That's also why so many stars from that era went out West.
The feeling was mutual, lol!! hated Duncan and the Spurs for the same reason for him torching us but damn wasn’t he one of the best to ever do it. DIRK MAV GOAT!!!!
That signing photo with Dirk and Nash will forever be hilarious. If someone told me those 2 would become all-time greats I would have laughed my ass off.
I don't think any single NBA player has had such a storybook ending like Dirk. We've had so many heroes where they couldn't get over the hump of winning the chip, Nash, CP3, Harden. But for Dirk it felt like he made it there. And yeah he didn't do it all on his own, but the dude was pushing the Mavs through in 2011 through sheer force of will. Even if he's not statistically a goat, his career is unmatched in narrative.
Also -- LeThird said (in a podcast to Redick in 2024) that it wasn't a superteam and that they didn't have enough. HOWEVER, they were up 2-1 in the Finals with a 4th quarter lead...before they (he) flamed out.
If Dirk's 2011 title run did not happened, I'm not sure if he will still be talked about in conversation of the greatest players ever because he couldn't able to do it and be labelled as a choker. I'm glad he did won that title even though it hurts me at that time because I was rooting for the Heat.
@@JBoss44Juggernauts? Otis Thorpe as Hakeem's #2 in 94 and an aging over the hill Clyde Drexler in 95 makes the Rockets juggernauts? I don't think so.
You should've added footage of the Inside the NBA post game show after Denver eliminated Dallas, the panel basically just went all in and called Dirk a loser and said he never would have it. It was brutal
He did! The panel was in total "....but he don't have that dog!!!" and totally ignoring that was maybe the worst team Prime Dirk ever had. It was just awful
Dirk is the greatest shooting big of his generation imo and he is top five power forward all time arguably I love Dirks ring and that historic run to that chip against the Heat aka revenge after his finals loss to D Wade
@@liorpapismedov2519 Giannis and KG are ahead of Dirk. Dirk is a fringe top 5 PF, or maybe just outside the top 5. Giannis its pretty clear. He has a DPOY and an extra MVP on Dirk. He has better statistics - more points, more rebounds, more assists, more blocks, more steals, higher fg%. Even considering the higher scoring era we are in now vs early 2000s, and considering that Giannis also turns the ball over more, I think its pretty clear that Giannis is better than Dirk and will retire with a better resume. And honestly it won't even be particularly close. As for Dirk vs KG, this is more of a discussion as their resumes look pretty similar - 1 ring, 1 MVP. Dirk has an FMVP, KG has a DPOY. More or less a wash in that regard. Statistically, Dirk got more points (an average of 3 ppg for his career, or 2 ppg more when they were both in their prime), Dirk turned the ball over less, and Dirk of course had higher 3p% and ft%. Garnett got more rebounds, more assists, more blocks, more steals, higher fg%. Dirk was a slightly better scorer, KG was a better rebounder, playmaker, and much better defender. Overall, I'd give the edge to KG because at his best he could take over a game on both ends of the court. I can see the argument for Dirk, but I think KG is the better player overall and I think the majority of non-biased basketball fans would agree, but it is pretty close. As for Karl Malone and Chuck... well it depends what you prioritize. Both were great players but neither ever won a championship or FMVP, which gives Dirk an advantage. Otherwise Karl Malone has an almost unbeatable resume though in terms of all star appearances, all-NBA selections (11 first team!), all-Defensive selections, and an extra MVP over Dirk. And Malone had to compete with Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon for championships. Charles Barkley had this same issue in 1993. His Phoenix Suns pushed the Bulls to 6 games, and Chuck played great, averaging 27.3/13/5.5/1.2/0.5 on 47.6 fg%, but Jordan was unstoppable averaging 41/8.5/6.3/1.7/0.7 on 50.8 fg%, so... I honestly don't know where to rank Chuck compared to Dirk, if the Suns had won that championship they would have a similar resume and Chuck had significantly better career stats, but as it stands I can definitely understand you putting Dirk ahead of Chuck.
When I say Chuck had better career stats than Dirk, its actually pretty stark... Chuck averaged about 2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1-2 assists more than Dirk per game on a 54.1% fg% (versus Dirk's 47.1%). Chuck had twice as many steals and the same amount of blocks as Dirk. Dirk turned the ball over less though. Charles Barkley's stats are clearly better than Dirk's. But he never won a championship or FMVP. If the Suns had won that championship, Chuck would have won the FMVP and this would be a very different conversation. But since the Bulls beat the Suns, Dirk clearly has a better resume, but Charles Barkley clearly has better stats... hard to say...
As a lifelong Kings fan, I will forever be grateful for Dirk helping Peja get his ring. I absolutely couldn’t stand him, until that point. Now it’s all respect lol
I watched Dirk in person once, with his fadeaway beating the Magic at the end of the 4th. We all knew it was coming, and he buried it with more ease than I brush my teeth.
As someone who followed Dirk from the beginning (live in Dallas pretty much my entire life) he is special for so many more reasons than just what we got to see on the court. He truly is a unicorn when it comes to how this man went about his career.
Awesome! May I suggest an episode on Curt Flood, next? He was one of the most consequential players in the history of baseball and yet the sport has largely forgot about him.
Im a suns fan, but I got a Dirk jersey from the mid 2000s. He always tormented Phoenix and the two teams had some incredible battles. He was an amazing player and I am glad he got his ‘chip
"Dirk continued his all-star caliber play over the next few years, but as the hits kept coming in the form of first round exits, Dirk seemed doomed to a legacy labeled as a great player, but a failure when it mattered most." Reminds me of a certain #4 on the other side of Dallas.
Rewinder: 2006 Orange Bowl 3OTs Beef History: Lindros vs Flyers Organization Overlap: Greatest College Football Coach (Saban) and the Greatest NFL Coach (Belichick) coaching in the same division Beef History: Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas Beef History: Phil Jackson and Pat Riley Untitled: Reggie Miller Untitled: Ken Griffey Jr. Untitled: Carl Yastrzemski Untitled: Ted Williams Untitled: Jim Kelly Collapse: Early 90s Bills Collapse: 2001 Sixers Rewinder: 2012 Olympic 100m Men’s Final Rewinder: The Catch By Willie Rewinder: Wide Right I, Wide Right II Rewinder: Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds breaking the respective HR record(s) Untitled: Don Nelson
The dirk vs dwade shaq finals was my first nba finals i watched and actually tried to understand the game. As a canadian kid in the early 2000s basketball was never put in my face really. I immediately bought the games, tuned into sportscenter for updates and to learn more. Truly my first and favorite basketball memory for me.
I don't usually feel sentimental about sports stuff but every time I watch a video about Dirk or see some of his highlights I get kind of emotional. I don't think I would trade Dirk's history with the Mavs for several more rings. Even though the Mavericks share a city with one of the most famous sports teams on the entire planet, Dirk still is and always will be Mr. Dallas.
If he hadn't been an absolute stud in leading his team to the title in 2011, the "choker" label might've been valid but you can't say that about him with the way he came through, not to mention the powerhouse teams in the West he had to always go against throughout his career.
The script was kinda weak, imo. The gauntlet they went through to win a championship was extremely difficult. Also Mavs front office didn't get enough hate. They made Dirk's life much more difficult than it should've.
Agreed. Portland tested them with some B.Roy late game antics and Andre Miller going nuclear. OKC drew some massive performances from Dirk, but that was still a tough team to beat. And to treat the Heat finals like "oh, he fought through some illness" was quite the understatement. And yes, the Mavs FO wasted a lot of Dirk's years. 100 percent.
Just imagine in the 2000s west only 3 teams came out of the west Lakers, spurs and the mavs LA got Kobe SA got Duncan Dallas got dirk This is how great he was
It was pretty unfair the kind of hate Dirk got for 5 years after '06, considering he was always one of the most humble players, and not the arrogant chest-pounder that people like to see fail. Most of it was likely the media hyping him up, not himself, especially after '03 when the Mavs likely would've won the title had he not been hurt against the Spurs. There's a perceived level of greatness, measured in Rings, and everyone is angry if you don't reach it. One championship was enough for most people to suddenly like him, perhaps because of the competition and past failures, but it's interesting where people draw the line for a "satisfactory career" for each player. Is 1 ring enough for Giannis or Jokic?
I actually ran into Dirk in summer of 2010 in DFW airport. We talked about the world cup and he took a picture with me and my friend Nafalya which after I regretted because no one went up to him until after us.
This is exactly what makes him the pioneer. 'Pioneer' and 'pawn' share the same origin linguistically - foot soldiers of lower status, these people are often sacrificed to achieve a greater advantage. Dirk absorbed the labels and criticism, and eventually came out on top - he is the definition of a pioneer for foreign players.
@@ChuckAngelHawk well, you childishly muted this, so I’m guessing you won’t see, but you’re still wrong. No Dirk slander will be tolerated in the comments 😂
I remember after his rookie season a writer for Sports Illustrated in a little blurb near the front of the issue took a dump on him and how he played. A year later? In the same style blurb, the same writer praised him. I wish I still had those issues, but those blurbs are burned in my head forever.
@@ChuckAngelHawk -- Both are correct. Dirk and Hakeem didn't have another current all star in the season they won. P.s. LeThird said (in a podcast to Redick in 2024) that it wasn't a superteam and that they didn't have enough. HOWEVER, they were up 2-1 in the Finals with a 4th quarter lead...before they (he) flamed out. Shout out to Dirk for cooking dem Heatles.
@@ChuckAngelHawk -- For the sake of discussion, Hakeem and Bird are my all time favorites. I won't make a huge argument that Dirk or Hakeem made the better run. Both are fantastic. It's like kid-me arguing: whose hotter: Salma Hayek or Halley Berry. Either is fine by me. We can debate statistics but I enjoy Dirk destroying the Heatles. lol. P.s. Lebum arguing "it was not a super team and didn't have enough help" is idiotic. Lebum had 3 #1s on the same team. Wade was a FMVP and most importantly...they were up 2-1 with a 4th quarter lead in game 4. LeBum is full of excuses -- talented, yes. great, yes, BUT ALSO mentally soft.
German Jesus was just a whole another level , despite considering him a choker , a soft player . He was just a complete version in 2010-11 , with a beautiful Cinderella story run on winning the NBA Championship. Appreciate making this Prism Player Profiles.
One of my fav players growing up in the 2000s. He was the first Unicorn, a 7 footer who can score at all 3 levels... before KD, young Porzingis or Wemby
Dirk was ahead of his time and because of it, he got labeled as “soft”. As a Mav fan, that 2011 run was special and exorcised the 2006 demons…but I was just happy that Dirk finally got the respect he deserved. Stayed down, never complained and made the organization what it is today 🫡
@@ChuckAngelHawk he didnt lol I’m not using hyperbole, and I don’t have to google it. I’m old enough to remember because I actually lived it lol. What? Say that he need help? Any actual Mavs fan knew he did. Was he like the complainers and whiners of today’s NBA? Ever force a trade? Complain about management to the media? Nope. So what is your definition of “complaining” “buddy”?
@@ChuckAngelHawk plus “never complained” is hyperbole? Lying? Lazy ignorance? None of that “bolsters” his legacy lmao. He’s literally accepted as some one who stayed down with the same team and it paid off. That was LITERALLY the whole point of the hype surrounding him winning that ring: the loyal superstar beat the team with a dude who ran from Cleveland. Listen here: I know you youngins these days do this fake intellectual act, where you “own” people and throw around buzz phrases like “lazy ignorance” to look cool. But I’m literally from Dallas and remember the media coverage surrounding him: they called him soft, they thought he wasn’t a leader, but he never bitched and moan. He wasn’t passive aggressive or spoke ill on moves: even when he knew they sucked. So, like I said: he never complained. Sorry it was so triggering 😂
-- that series bothered me. Yes, Wade was the aggressor BUT ALSO there were so many phantom calls that helped me realize that some games are weighted in the favor of certain teams (i.e. LAL vs Pippen Blazers and LAL vs C-Webb SAC Kings).
I think you should do a rewinder on the Miracle of Istanbul (2005 Champions League Final) where Liverpool came back to beat AC Milan against every single odd. It's a really cool story about how they basically beat the best team in the world from the death.
“dude you aren’t going to the army. you’re 7 feet tall. what are you gonna hide behind?” -Charles Barkley
Said it once before but I think it bears repeating.
He sparred with Yao and beat Tim Duncan in his prime.
He beat Kobe, the Thunder’s Big Three, and the Heatles.
The man was a headhunter.
And added to what what he went through in the video makes his championship all the sweeter.
It’s not fair, poor 26 year-old Lebron had no help against a boomer Mavs superteam led by 40 year olds, 4 foot tall JJ Barea, and another short dude who liked to act like a plane.. Technically the 2011 finals results doesn’t count and Lebron won!
And the last version of a really good Brandon Roy who shouldn't be dismissed
@@easyveazeyng B Roy and prime Lamarcus Aldridge mind you
He basically was batman when in arkham asylum when all the villains got out
@@ChiTownOriginator LMA was still growing into a great player and had just made his first all NBA team, BRoy was already a 3x All Star and 2x All NBA. We were really robbed of someone that could've been one of the best of the decade
Fav moment: Dirk retreating to the locker room in tears after the Mavs won the whole thing in 2011.
my fav was drunken dirk singing we are the champions (terribly off key) at the parade
Yes. I flashed back to that when Curry dissolved in tears after winning in 2022 and Tatum choked up this year. These guys put a ton of pressure on themselves and work their asses off for years to get tot those moments.
Nowitzki is the ultimate Prism episode. Crazy to have witnessed the whole rollercoaster. One of the greats.
Its ironic that dirk has went to the finals and lost and redeemed himself and in his last season he passes the torch to someone that played in the euro league and has now lost in the finals and is wanting to redeem himself ....time will tell if the story rewrites itself ❤️ all mavericks fans hope so
It's also ironic that the media proclaimed "coach killer" Jason Kidd is coaching this torchbearer who got his last coach fired lmao
@@penaltyflag366
What exactly are you getting at here
Like serious actual question what are you even pointing out?
@@redbull63 Just yappin lmao but it's fun to think about if there was a script mavericks definitely have the most underrated one
luka ain't him keep dreaming my dude
@@jinntakkLuka is 25 n is getting ready to hit his prime I’ll let that sit with u
He had a run for the ages in 2011. It was painful as a Laker fan to be on the end of it.
But Dirk overcame Roy, Kobe, Harden, Durant, Westbrook, Bosh, Wade, and Lebron. He slayed 4 mvps. Truly the greatest European NBA player.
I’d also guess thats at least six future HOF players
It's basketball hall of fame which is one the easiest to get in. Hell, I never played organized basketball and I might be in the HOF😂@@aceassn716
Brandon Roy was special, man.
And Gasol
Swept, defending champion Kobe btw
Dirk was never soft. He was finesse. There's a difference. It's disrespectful to call any athlete soft. You don't get to this level to be Dirk level good especially if you're soft
Naw he was soft he just grew his game to fit.
I think soft in the context of basketball and soft physically in general are two different things
And you absolutely cannot say Dirk was soft, but you can say he was soft in basketball terms
He absolutely was soft. He flopped too like a lot of Euro players coming over did. Ironic American born players do it all the time now and take it even further than even flop god Vlade Divac did.
Harden isn’t a choker, he’s just a finesse player who doesn’t get benefits of a whistle in the playoffs that he gets in the regular season.
See how that works? Two things can be true at the same time
Dirk was soft. But his losses, turned him into a killer
That ring is def the most valuable ring to any player’s legacy ever
Have always had massive respect for Dirk, even as a Spurs fan. Changed the landscape of the league forever 🇩🇪
He's why the foreign stretch big exists now
@@jctsliceAnd probably why some foreign 2000’s players got taken as high as they did
Loved being in texas and having Timmie and Dirk as co-favorite players.
At any point, during script edits, did anyone mention it wasn't just an NBA title, it was a title won against the most unstoppable villains in the NBA, The not 1 not 2 not 3 Heatles.
That is an integral part of what made him teflon.
Love me some SB, but yall dropped the ball on that highly impactful narrative.
Should have mentioned that was LeBron's first year in Miami, following "The Decision". He made going to the Heat such a big deal with the rest of the "Big Three". And it wasn't just talk; they went 12-3 in the Eastern conference playoffs on their way to the finals. They just looked like some unstoppable juggernaut. And then Dirk happened
@@calvin7330eh. It was mainly because of how weak the East was (outside of Indiana)
@@darrendent8288 The East was weak BECAUSE of LeBron. He wasn't lucky. Teams knew they were drawing dead so nobody wanted to go all in.
LeBron owned the East for a Decade. That's also why so many stars from that era went out West.
As a Spurs fan I hated Dirk as a kid, but the older I get the more I respect his game… that fadeaway from the top of the post was money
As a mavs fan, i hated Tim Duncan as a kid. But as I got older I grew to massively respect his game. His is mr fundamental for a reason.
The feeling was mutual, lol!! hated Duncan and the Spurs for the same reason for him torching us but damn wasn’t he one of the best to ever do it. DIRK MAV GOAT!!!!
Only in TX where rivals are hated to the core, but respect their body of work.
I thought the Spurs were very classy in his lart game in San Antonio they did a video package tribute for him during introductions
I think all thr Texan NBA fans hates the other Texan NBA teams lmao..i hated the rockets and the mavericks..😂😂😂
That signing photo with Dirk and Nash will forever be hilarious. If someone told me those 2 would become all-time greats I would have laughed my ass off.
They look like they'd make the best 2000's boy band
I don't think any single NBA player has had such a storybook ending like Dirk.
We've had so many heroes where they couldn't get over the hump of winning the chip, Nash, CP3, Harden. But for Dirk it felt like he made it there. And yeah he didn't do it all on his own, but the dude was pushing the Mavs through in 2011 through sheer force of will. Even if he's not statistically a goat, his career is unmatched in narrative.
I wouldn't really consider Harden or CP3 heroes lol
That 2011 Finals really saved Dirks legacy cause before that he would’ve just been another good player who could never get it done
He would’ve been another subject for “untitled” remember that show on this channel?
Good? Stop. He would have been called great. Harden, Ewing, Malone, Barkley, etc are still considered great without a ring.
He led Dallas and beat the "not 1 not 2 not 3" Heat team. That was his redemption and more than made up to the Mavs failures in the 2000's.
Also -- LeThird said (in a podcast to Redick in 2024) that it wasn't a superteam and that they didn't have enough. HOWEVER, they were up 2-1 in the Finals with a 4th quarter lead...before they (he) flamed out.
If Dirk's 2011 title run did not happened, I'm not sure if he will still be talked about in conversation of the greatest players ever because he couldn't able to do it and be labelled as a choker. I'm glad he did won that title even though it hurts me at that time because I was rooting for the Heat.
I'm from the Dallas/Ft Worth area and man Dirk is so beloved here! I was so happy for him in 2011! 🏀🏆
forget about MJ, Lebron, Curry, Kobe, Bird or even Magic - Dirk's championship run is one, if not, the best playoff run of all time.
It's right up there with the 1995 Rockets.
Rockets were juggernauts since Jordan left. Be serious@@budwyzer77
@@budwyzer77Only his best teammate wasn’t as good as Clyde Drexler; correct me if I’m wrong.
@@fortynights1513 But he also had Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, JJ Barea, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler... depth is usually better than raw star power.
@@JBoss44Juggernauts? Otis Thorpe as Hakeem's #2 in 94 and an aging over the hill Clyde Drexler in 95 makes the Rockets juggernauts? I don't think so.
You should've added footage of the Inside the NBA post game show after Denver eliminated Dallas, the panel basically just went all in and called Dirk a loser and said he never would have it. It was brutal
Didn’t he average 35 that series
He did! The panel was in total "....but he don't have that dog!!!" and totally ignoring that was maybe the worst team Prime Dirk ever had. It was just awful
Dirk is the greatest shooting big of his generation imo and he is top five power forward all time arguably
I love Dirks ring and that historic run to that chip against the Heat aka revenge after his finals loss to D Wade
Tim
Malone
Dirk
KG
Barkley
@@liorpapismedov2519 Giannis and KG are ahead of Dirk. Dirk is a fringe top 5 PF, or maybe just outside the top 5.
Giannis its pretty clear. He has a DPOY and an extra MVP on Dirk. He has better statistics - more points, more rebounds, more assists, more blocks, more steals, higher fg%. Even considering the higher scoring era we are in now vs early 2000s, and considering that Giannis also turns the ball over more, I think its pretty clear that Giannis is better than Dirk and will retire with a better resume. And honestly it won't even be particularly close.
As for Dirk vs KG, this is more of a discussion as their resumes look pretty similar - 1 ring, 1 MVP. Dirk has an FMVP, KG has a DPOY. More or less a wash in that regard. Statistically, Dirk got more points (an average of 3 ppg for his career, or 2 ppg more when they were both in their prime), Dirk turned the ball over less, and Dirk of course had higher 3p% and ft%. Garnett got more rebounds, more assists, more blocks, more steals, higher fg%. Dirk was a slightly better scorer, KG was a better rebounder, playmaker, and much better defender. Overall, I'd give the edge to KG because at his best he could take over a game on both ends of the court. I can see the argument for Dirk, but I think KG is the better player overall and I think the majority of non-biased basketball fans would agree, but it is pretty close.
As for Karl Malone and Chuck... well it depends what you prioritize. Both were great players but neither ever won a championship or FMVP, which gives Dirk an advantage. Otherwise Karl Malone has an almost unbeatable resume though in terms of all star appearances, all-NBA selections (11 first team!), all-Defensive selections, and an extra MVP over Dirk. And Malone had to compete with Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon for championships. Charles Barkley had this same issue in 1993. His Phoenix Suns pushed the Bulls to 6 games, and Chuck played great, averaging 27.3/13/5.5/1.2/0.5 on 47.6 fg%, but Jordan was unstoppable averaging 41/8.5/6.3/1.7/0.7 on 50.8 fg%, so... I honestly don't know where to rank Chuck compared to Dirk, if the Suns had won that championship they would have a similar resume and Chuck had significantly better career stats, but as it stands I can definitely understand you putting Dirk ahead of Chuck.
When I say Chuck had better career stats than Dirk, its actually pretty stark... Chuck averaged about 2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1-2 assists more than Dirk per game on a 54.1% fg% (versus Dirk's 47.1%). Chuck had twice as many steals and the same amount of blocks as Dirk. Dirk turned the ball over less though.
Charles Barkley's stats are clearly better than Dirk's. But he never won a championship or FMVP.
If the Suns had won that championship, Chuck would have won the FMVP and this would be a very different conversation. But since the Bulls beat the Suns, Dirk clearly has a better resume, but Charles Barkley clearly has better stats... hard to say...
Being from Dallas, that 2011 run was magical. Loyalty never fades!
As a lifelong Kings fan, I will forever be grateful for Dirk helping Peja get his ring. I absolutely couldn’t stand him, until that point. Now it’s all respect lol
I cried when he finally won the NBA Finals and when he finally retired. One of the greatest players ever, no doubt.
Dirk was the perfect subject for a Prism video. I wonder if Clayton Kershaw will get one at some point.
He’s the one who got me into basketball. He’ll forever be my favorite player of all time. I miss seeing him on the court! 🥲 #MFFL #Forever41
Dirk and Timmy were just a different breed
I watched Dirk in person once, with his fadeaway beating the Magic at the end of the 4th. We all knew it was coming, and he buried it with more ease than I brush my teeth.
Love ya Dirk! Thanks for my fade away!🖤💛🏀🤟✌️
One of my favorite players, glad he has been covered.
As someone who followed Dirk from the beginning (live in Dallas pretty much my entire life) he is special for so many more reasons than just what we got to see on the court. He truly is a unicorn when it comes to how this man went about his career.
Awesome! May I suggest an episode on Curt Flood, next? He was one of the most consequential players in the history of baseball and yet the sport has largely forgot about him.
Forget baseball, one of the most consequential players in the history of North American sport!
I watched his entire career. Simply an all time great player.
Dirks 2011 Championship Run is one, if not the greatest run in NBA history possibly with The Hakeem's 95.
That championship run is the best I’ve seen since the Rockets 94-95 title. Dirk was certified by that one.
What a crazy run in 2011. Ty for the title Dirk. Enjoy your retirement
Im a suns fan, but I got a Dirk jersey from the mid 2000s. He always tormented Phoenix and the two teams had some incredible battles. He was an amazing player and I am glad he got his ‘chip
I feel like talking about that loss in the finals to the heat, without mentioning the historical calls they ended up getting is messed up lol
That ghost foul on Wade will haunt me until my dying day
This is the best redemption arc in the NBA and one of the best playoff runs ive ever seen
Dirk "The King of Fades" Nowitzki
I love how it was the 2006 finals that he got blamed for when in his minutes they outscored the heat.
And zero mention of all the FTs Wade got in games 5 and 6, 46 in total. It's still one of the great controversies in NBA Finals history.
That's usually how it goes for championship Ls
@@mrmacrossI still think the commissioner fixed that series
"Dirk continued his all-star caliber play over the next few years, but as the hits kept coming in the form of first round exits, Dirk seemed doomed to a legacy labeled as a great player, but a failure when it mattered most."
Reminds me of a certain #4 on the other side of Dallas.
DN / DP
An absolute legend. Thanks for all you’ve meant to and done for the game Dirk.
Rewinder: 2006 Orange Bowl 3OTs
Beef History: Lindros vs Flyers Organization
Overlap: Greatest College Football Coach (Saban) and the Greatest NFL Coach (Belichick) coaching in the same division
Beef History: Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas
Beef History: Phil Jackson and Pat Riley
Untitled: Reggie Miller
Untitled: Ken Griffey Jr.
Untitled: Carl Yastrzemski
Untitled: Ted Williams
Untitled: Jim Kelly
Collapse: Early 90s Bills
Collapse: 2001 Sixers
Rewinder: 2012 Olympic 100m Men’s Final
Rewinder: The Catch By Willie
Rewinder: Wide Right I, Wide Right II
Rewinder: Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds breaking the respective HR record(s)
Untitled: Don Nelson
Let this video’s title be your reminder why commas are important.
Dirk for me is a role model. You can achieve whatever you want without lost your essence. A pleasure saw him play
Dirk is a legend and one of the best players ever
The dirk vs dwade shaq finals was my first nba finals i watched and actually tried to understand the game.
As a canadian kid in the early 2000s basketball was never put in my face really. I immediately bought the games, tuned into sportscenter for updates and to learn more. Truly my first and favorite basketball memory for me.
Dirk’s ring is the most valuable ring of the 2010’s
I don't usually feel sentimental about sports stuff but every time I watch a video about Dirk or see some of his highlights I get kind of emotional. I don't think I would trade Dirk's history with the Mavs for several more rings. Even though the Mavericks share a city with one of the most famous sports teams on the entire planet, Dirk still is and always will be Mr. Dallas.
If he hadn't been an absolute stud in leading his team to the title in 2011, the "choker" label might've been valid but you can't say that about him with the way he came through, not to mention the powerhouse teams in the West he had to always go against throughout his career.
ME AND ALL MY HOMIES LOVE DIRK!!!!!!!!!
Favorite player of all time.
The script was kinda weak, imo. The gauntlet they went through to win a championship was extremely difficult. Also Mavs front office didn't get enough hate. They made Dirk's life much more difficult than it should've.
Agreed. Portland tested them with some B.Roy late game antics and Andre Miller going nuclear. OKC drew some massive performances from Dirk, but that was still a tough team to beat. And to treat the Heat finals like "oh, he fought through some illness" was quite the understatement. And yes, the Mavs FO wasted a lot of Dirk's years. 100 percent.
Steve Nash with frosted tips is such a cursed image.
When he was making that layup over the entire big 3 in game 2, I knew it was over. I also knew LeBron's final form was first imagined that day, too.
Only thing soft about him was his words.
He was a beast through and through.
Happy to see yall support them!
Just imagine in the 2000s west only 3 teams came out of the west Lakers, spurs and the mavs
LA got Kobe
SA got Duncan
Dallas got dirk
This is how great he was
It was pretty unfair the kind of hate Dirk got for 5 years after '06, considering he was always one of the most humble players, and not the arrogant chest-pounder that people like to see fail. Most of it was likely the media hyping him up, not himself, especially after '03 when the Mavs likely would've won the title had he not been hurt against the Spurs. There's a perceived level of greatness, measured in Rings, and everyone is angry if you don't reach it. One championship was enough for most people to suddenly like him, perhaps because of the competition and past failures, but it's interesting where people draw the line for a "satisfactory career" for each player. Is 1 ring enough for Giannis or Jokic?
Dirk is easily one of my favorites, that I wish I got to see him play when I was starting to be able to afford to go to 1 or 2 NBA games in real life
One of my all time favorite players. Absolute legend
I love this series so much
I actually ran into Dirk in summer of 2010 in DFW airport. We talked about the world cup and he took a picture with me and my friend Nafalya which after I regretted because no one went up to him until after us.
Dirk Nowitzki, underappreciated legend.
This is exactly what makes him the pioneer. 'Pioneer' and 'pawn' share the same origin linguistically - foot soldiers of lower status, these people are often sacrificed to achieve a greater advantage. Dirk absorbed the labels and criticism, and eventually came out on top - he is the definition of a pioneer for foreign players.
Any Dirk slander in the comments will not be tolerated
@@ChuckAngelHawkeither way is correct.
@@ChuckAngelHawk well, you childishly muted this, so I’m guessing you won’t see, but you’re still wrong. No Dirk slander will be tolerated in the comments 😂
If Dirk didn't win in 2011 he'd be remembered as a soft choker who never could get it done is that slander? 2011 singlehandedly saved his legacy.
@@CrazyxEnigma And don't forget that in his 2007 MVP season he lost to the eighth seeded Warriors as a 67-15 win team in the first round
@@ChuckAngelHawk Lighten up, Francis.
Clayton Crowley made it big enough that channels as big and great as Secret Base are following his video leads
Dirk was a 59 overall in the OG NBA2k (or 2k1 not sure)
I've always remembered that, because, even then, it seemed shockingly low.
Dirks triple threat was one of the best ever, probably only behind Hakeem. He may be the best big man shooter ever, but he was no slouch Face-Up.
dirk nowitzki is more successful on the court than charles barkley and every other player who never won a ring
Im from dallas and watch his hole career. Hes my favorite player all time.
I remember after his rookie season a writer for Sports Illustrated in a little blurb near the front of the issue took a dump on him and how he played. A year later? In the same style blurb, the same writer praised him. I wish I still had those issues, but those blurbs are burned in my head forever.
The Mavericks 2011 championship run probably was the most important run to cement a players legacy and Dirk the occasion
Love the video…but still not even the best Dirk legacy assessment video released this month lol any other Clayton Crowley fans here?
My literal first thought lol
Clayton Crowley is a really good narrator and writer
Dirks 2011 championship will go down as the most impressive playoff run in NBA history
@@ChuckAngelHawk -- Both are correct. Dirk and Hakeem didn't have another current all star in the season they won.
P.s. LeThird said (in a podcast to Redick in 2024) that it wasn't a superteam and that they didn't have enough. HOWEVER, they were up 2-1 in the Finals with a 4th quarter lead...before they (he) flamed out. Shout out to Dirk for cooking dem Heatles.
@@ChuckAngelHawk -- For the sake of discussion, Hakeem and Bird are my all time favorites.
I won't make a huge argument that Dirk or Hakeem made the better run. Both are fantastic. It's like kid-me arguing: whose hotter: Salma Hayek or Halley Berry. Either is fine by me.
We can debate statistics but I enjoy Dirk destroying the Heatles. lol.
P.s. Lebum arguing "it was not a super team and didn't have enough help" is idiotic.
Lebum had 3 #1s on the same team. Wade was a FMVP and most importantly...they were up 2-1 with a 4th quarter lead in game 4. LeBum is full of excuses -- talented, yes. great, yes, BUT ALSO mentally soft.
Dirk walking off the court as the Mavs won the Finals is one of basketball's most iconic moments
Great video about Dirk 👍
Another BANGER by secret base
The Heat big three F-ed around and found out how “soft” Dirk was in 2011.
German Jesus was just a whole another level , despite considering him a choker , a soft player .
He was just a complete version in 2010-11 , with a beautiful Cinderella story run on winning the NBA Championship.
Appreciate making this Prism Player Profiles.
The 2011 Mavs championship has more significance than the 2 KD Warriors championships
The Great Nowitzki by Thomas Pletzinger is an amazing book that gives even more background on Dirk
It's crazy how easily narratives form and how quickly they can be erased in the course of one playoff run.
This video feels short. I wish these were longer and took more time going through his playoff stuff (like in 2003) before 2006/7
That dude, Dirk!
Glad this was made. Dirk really silenced his haters.
One of my fav players growing up in the 2000s. He was the first Unicorn, a 7 footer who can score at all 3 levels... before KD, young Porzingis or Wemby
love this channel so much.
My favorite player of all time.
Sports media's idea of weakness will never not be stupid
Dirk is a role model. Unselfish. Team player. Never blamed anyone else. I'd take Dirk over LeFlop any day of the week.
Dirk was ahead of his time and because of it, he got labeled as “soft”. As a Mav fan, that 2011 run was special and exorcised the 2006 demons…but I was just happy that Dirk finally got the respect he deserved. Stayed down, never complained and made the organization what it is today 🫡
@@ChuckAngelHawk he didnt lol I’m not using hyperbole, and I don’t have to google it. I’m old enough to remember because I actually lived it lol. What? Say that he need help? Any actual Mavs fan knew he did. Was he like the complainers and whiners of today’s NBA? Ever force a trade? Complain about management to the media? Nope. So what is your definition of “complaining” “buddy”?
@@ChuckAngelHawk plus “never complained” is hyperbole? Lying? Lazy ignorance? None of that “bolsters” his legacy lmao. He’s literally accepted as some one who stayed down with the same team and it paid off. That was LITERALLY the whole point of the hype surrounding him winning that ring: the loyal superstar beat the team with a dude who ran from Cleveland. Listen here: I know you youngins these days do this fake intellectual act, where you “own” people and throw around buzz phrases like “lazy ignorance” to look cool. But I’m literally from Dallas and remember the media coverage surrounding him: they called him soft, they thought he wasn’t a leader, but he never bitched and moan. He wasn’t passive aggressive or spoke ill on moves: even when he knew they sucked. So, like I said: he never complained. Sorry it was so triggering 😂
I think every prism episode should be about the early 90' Bills teams. 4 straight trips and no chip.
3:00 "fellow frosted tips" haha well done
Every 11s is a hype year no matter hope everyone is here for 2099 finals 🙏🙌
This was posted 41 minutes ago when I clicked it , cool coincidence 🤯
Dirk’s ring stands almost alone in quality. He drug that team to a title.
Shoulda mentioned the crooked ass ref that got to sent to prison for rigging the 06 Finals
that part. they were hacking tf outta dirk
D Wade had 45?!? Or so free throws within two games!! Think they were games 5&6??
-- that series bothered me. Yes, Wade was the aggressor BUT ALSO there were so many phantom calls that helped me realize that some games are weighted in the favor of certain teams (i.e. LAL vs Pippen Blazers and LAL vs C-Webb SAC Kings).
@@jlui21 no doubt stern made a phone call in that Lakers Kings series smh in game 6 LA shot 27 free throws in just the 4th quarter ..
I think you should do a rewinder on the Miracle of Istanbul (2005 Champions League Final) where Liverpool came back to beat AC Milan against every single odd. It's a really cool story about how they basically beat the best team in the world from the death.
My childhood hero