Mavericks’ Superstar Is Marching Forward

[duncan228]

Mavericks’ superstar is marching forward (http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1205411.html)
By Eddie Sefko

Dirk Nowitzki is playing in his eighth consecutive NBA All-Star Game today, and he’s only 30 years old.

That sets him up to climb the charts as one of the most prolific power forwards in NBA history. At the very least, he will be remembered as a player who helped transform the position, bringing finesse and shooting to the traditional power forward ideal of brute force.

He’s proving there is more than one way to be one of the greats. He’s also having one of his best statistical seasons.

"He’s just been phenomenally consistent for us all year," Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "If our record were better, he’d be solidly in the MVP talk. But he understands how that works. The media votes for things like that and they put a lot of emphasis on the teams that win a lot of games, as they should."

Nowitzki puts much more stock in winning than any numbers he might post. Still, numbers define athletes.

With that in mind, it might be enlightening to see where Nowitzki ranks on some of the key statistical lists for power forwards.

These lists are confined to players who spent most of their careers playing power forward, although some might also have played center or small forward at times.

The 15 power forwards on the list: Charles Barkley, Tom Chambers, Terry Cummings, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Elvin Hayes, Jerry Lucas, Karl Malone, Bob McAdoo, Kevin McHale, Nowitzki, Charles Oakley, Bob Pettit, Jack Sikma, and Buck Williams. Players who specialized in one area (think Dennis Rodman) were omitted for this exercise. Nowitzki, Duncan and Garnett are active.

Points

Player Points

Karl Malone 36,928
Elvin Hayes 27,313
Charles Barkley 23,757
Kevin Garnett 21,217
Bob Pettit 20,880
Tom Chambers 20,049
Terry Cummings 19,460
Tim Duncan 18,835
Bob McAdoo 18,787
Dirk Nowitzki 18,274
Kevin McHale 17,335
Jack Sikma 17,287
Buck Williams 16,784
Jerry Lucas 14,053
Charles Oakley 12,417
Comment: Nowitzki could pass everyone except Malone, Hayes, Barkley and Garnett.

Scoring average

Player Avg.

Bob Pettit 26.4
Karl Malone 25.0
Dirk Nowitzki 22.6
Charles Barkley 22.1
Bob McAdoo 22.1
Tim Duncan 21.6
Elvin Hayes 21.0
Kevin Garnett 20.2
Tom Chambers 18.1
Kevin McHale 17.9
Jerry Lucas 17.0
Terry Cummings 16.4
Jack Sikma 15.6
Buck Williams 12.8
Charles Oakley 9.7
Comment: Career 20-point scorers is one of the elite statistical categories.

Rebounds

Player Rebs.

Elvin Hayes 16,279
Karl Malone 14,968
Buck Williams 13,017
Jerry Lucas 12,942
Bob Pettit 12,849
Charles Barkley 12,546
Charles Oakley 12,205
Kevin Garnett 11,657
Jack Sikma 10,816
Tim Duncan 10,272
Terry Cummings 8,630
Bob McAdoo 8,048
Kevin McHale 7,122
Dirk Nowitzki 6,916
Tom Chambers 6,703
Comment: Nowitzki will never catch Garnett or Duncan, but he should crack the top 10.

Assists

Player Assists

Karl Malone 5,248
Kevin Garnett 4,527
Charles Barkley 4,215
Jack Sikma 3,488
Charles Oakley 3,217
Tim Duncan 2,778
Jerry Lucas 2,730
Elvin Hayes 2,398
Bob Pettit 2,369
Tom Chambers 2,283
Terry Cummings 2,190
Dirk Nowitzki 2,167
Bob McAdoo 1,951
Kevin McHale 1,670
Buck Williams 1,646
Comment: OK, so passing is rarely a strength for a power forward. Dirk is no different.

Steals

Player Steals*

Karl Malone 2,085
Charles Barkley 1,648
Kevin Garnett 1,442
Charles Oakley 1,351
Terry Cummings 1,255
Jack Sikma 1,162
Buck Williams 1,080
Tom Chambers 885
Elvin Hayes 864
Dirk Nowitzki 751
Bob McAdoo 751
Tim Duncan 675
Kevin McHale 344
Comment: Garnett is the only one with a chance to catch Malone.

*Steals were not kept when Jerry Lucas and Bob Pettit played

Minutes

Player Minutes

Karl Malone 54,852
Elvin Hayes 50,000
Buck Williams 42,464
Charles Oakley 40,280
Kevin Garnett 39,523
Charles Barkley 39,330
Jack Sikma 36,943
Tom Chambers 33,922
Terry Cummings 33,898
Tim Duncan 32,379
Jerry Lucas 32,131
Bob Pettit 30,690
Kevin McHale 30,118
Dirk Nowitzki 29,514
Bob McAdoo 28,327
Comment: If Nowitzki plays five more seasons, he should crack the top five.

Field-goal percentage

Player Pct.

Kevin McHale .554
Buck Williams .549
Charles Barkley .541
Karl Malone .516
Tim Duncan .508
Bob McAdoo .503
Jerry Lucas .499
Kevin Garnett .496
Terry Cummings .484
Dirk Nowitzki .472
Charles Oakley .471
Tom Chambers .468
Jack Sikma .464
Elvin Hayes .452
Bob Pettit .436
Comment: Almost everybody above Nowitzki was primarily a low-post scorer.

Free-throw percentage

Player Pct.

Dirk Nowitzki .873
Jack Sikma .849
Tom Chambers .807
Kevin McHale .798
Jerry Lucas .783
Kevin Garnett .782
Charles Oakley .761
Bob Pettit .761
Bob McAdoo .754
Karl Malone .742
Charles Barkley .735
Terry Cummings .706
Tim Duncan .685
Elvin Hayes .670
Buck Williams .664
Comment: This one’s not even close, boosting Nowitzki’s claim to the best free-throw shooting power forward ever.

3-point percentage

Player Pct.*

Dirk Nowitzki .379
Jack Sikma .328
Tom Chambers .307
Terry Cummings .295
Kevin Garnett .283
Karl Malone .274
Charles Barkley .266
Kevin McHale .261
Charles Oakley .253
Tim Duncan .189
Comment: Nowitzki has shot and made more than any big man in history.

*Minimum 100 attempts

[Ghazi]

God bless our beloved Dirk.

God willing one of these years he winds up in a situation to win a ring, to compliment the "ghost ring" he has from the 2006 Finals that are tainted by fluke shots and bullshit officiating.

[m33p0]

the only thing the article proved is that dirk is a perimeter player which he is.

[Bob Lanier]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/482060058_b4850d51e3.jpg?v=0

[Bob Lanier]

Remember when Horst Wessel said he would kill you last?

[Bob Lanier]

Horst Wessel Lied.

[Ghazi]

the only thing the article proved is that dirk is a perimeter player which he is.

idiotic statement.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

They 4got a few important facts

1. He likes David Hasselhoff

2. He abuses exercise bikes

3. He choked away a 2-0 finals lead

[Ghazi]

They forgot another fact:

1. Carmelo Anthony is 4-20 in the playoffs and is a backward fighting pussy.

It would've been a tad off topic, but still a fact:lol:downspin:

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

don't remember that Dirk ran from the bike? :smokin

[mavs>spurs2]

:lmao @ backward's fighting pussy!!!

[mavs>spurs2]

don't remember that Dirk ran from the bike? :smokin

at least the bike was bigger than nate robinson :lmao

[Chieflion]

God bless our beloved Dirk.

God willing one of these years he winds up in a situation to win a ring, to compliment the "ghost ring" he has from the 2006 Finals that are tainted by fluke shots and bullshit officiating.

Today, I tried playing as the Knicks in "The Association" for 2k9.
I didn't make the playoffs, but I got under the cap the next season, got the 2nd and 8th pick. And the Mavs won a freaking championship. The Finals MVP was Kidd. (Cuban was actually right!)

[dirk4mvp]

the only thing the article proved is that dirk is a perimeter player which he is.


Looks more like it proved he's among the all-time greats.

[Findog]

Hey Nuggets Fan, go pick on a franchise your own size, like the Bobcats.

[m33p0]

Looks more like it proved he's among the all-time greats.
charles oakley one the all-time greats?

[turiaf for president]

They forgot another fact:

1. Carmelo Anthony is 4-20 in the playoffs and is a backward fighting pussy

It would've been a tad off topic, but still a fact:lol:downspin:
:lmao:lmao

[dirk4mvp]

charles oakley one the all-time greats?


Oakley is not the only player on those lists. Don't be a dumbass.

[ducks]

dirk is not a superstar

[Sportstudi]

dirk is not a superstar

But according to your avatar Tony Parker is?

[m33p0]

Oakley is not the only player on those lists. Don't be a dumbass.
so it's not a list of all-time great power forwards?

[Rogue]

dirk is not a "superstar" like ducks
fixed :hat