SB Nation - Dirk Nowitzki

NBA Rumors: Would Mavs Offer James Harden The Max?

tjarks — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:00:48 -0000

James Harden has an interesting choice in front of him. He's clearly in a great situation in Oklahoma City, but the Thunder probably won't be able to pay three players max contracts and avoid the luxury tax.

So he could either agree to a below-market value extension now or wait until he's a restricted free agent and see what the market will offer him.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, at least a few Western Conference teams would be willing to throw a max offer his way:

I know at least two teams near OKC (Houston & Dallas) that are huge Harden fans and will have cap space to sign him to loaded offer sheet
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 12, 2012

While Harden wouldn't be the elite defensive center the Mavericks need to replace Tyson Chandler, he would be a star who could transition the franchise forward as Dirk Nowitzki gets older.

Thunder fans, don't say you weren't warned ...

Mavericks Not Worried About Possible Dirk Decline

tjarks — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:18:17 -0000

At the age of 34, Dirk Nowitzki is clearly on the downside of his career, but the Dallas Mavericks aren't worried about their best player slipping to far from his peak.

As Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson pointed out in an interview with the Fort-Worth Star Telegram, Dirk is still two-three years younger than Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, both coming off deep post-season runs:

"Dirk, with his size and versatility, he's a thinker and he's a shooter, he's the kind of guy that can age very well," Nelson said.

Size and shooting ability are the two features that correlate the most with career longevity, for obvious reasons. Players don't get smaller in their late 30's and they don't forget how to shoot jumpers.

But while Dirk is a more dangerous offensive threat than Duncan and Garnett, both offer much more on the defensive end. Of course, the Mavericks had another 7'0 with Duncan's ability to hold position on the low block and Garnett's ability to contain penetration and play above the rim.

And if Dallas can find another player like Tyson Chandler, they'll be back where they were two years ago. Oops.

Chris Kaman Is Excited To Call The State Of Texas Home

JP Starkey — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:28:58 -0000

Chris Kaman is reportedly set to ink a one-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks, worth $8 million dollars. You'd think that's enough to excite somebody, right?

Kaman may very well be excited about his new eight million dollar payday, or teaming up with fellow German basketball player Dirk Nowitzki, but Kaman is also excited about other aspects of headed to Dallas to continue his career.

It didn't take long at all for Kaman to take to Twitter to express some of his thoughts.

I do love Texas guns laws tho!Pretty excited......
— Chris Kaman (@ChrisKaman) July 11, 2012

If you check out Kaman's Twitter feed, he's posted a few pictures of animals he's hunted, so it seems that Kaman will continue that leisurely activity in Dallas.

Kaman also thinks his truck will feel right at home in Big D:

I think my truck will fit right in here in Texas! twitpic.com/a6jr40
— Chris Kaman (@ChrisKaman) July 11, 2012

Well, I don't want to be the guy to accuse him of being wrong, so I'll leave that for you to decide -- and inform Kaman.

Charles Barkley Will Attend Dirk Nowitzki's Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game

JP Starkey — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:52:41 -0000

Dirk Nowitzki's celebrity baseball game just got a little more entertaining. Nowitzki announced on Twitter today that Sir Charles Barkley himself will be attending the game -- and Dirk didn't shy away from any trash talk.

Happy to announce that Sir Charles is comin to play in my baseball game this Saturday. Awesome.Hopefully he swings bat better than golf club
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) June 27, 2012

Of course, it's good, light hearted fun. Dirk's Heroes Celebrity Game aims to help sports growth in the Metroplex area for young boys and girls. You can read more about it after the jump.

You can attend the event if you'd like, by purchasing tickets through Ticket Master. I know, I know, I hate Ticket Master just as much if not more than you, but it's better than nothing.

Here's the schedule for the day, courtesy of the Heroes website:

Saturday, June 30, at 6 p.m.
Dr Pepper Ballpark - 7300 RoughRiders Trl, Frisco, TX 75034
(Benefitting the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and Heroes Foundation)

3:30 p.m. - The Whataburger Heroes Special Olympic All-Star Softball Game
5 p.m. - Baylor Medical Center at Frisco Celebrity Home Run Derby presented with HITS400
6 p.m. - DIRK NOWITZKI'S 2012 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game
FIREWORKS FINALE following the game

Local luminaries and famous faces such as Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban and former Texas Rangers standout Kevin Mench will slug it out on the diamond for nine innings of "hard-charging, umpires-umpping, trash-talking, base-stealing, home run-hitting, authentic BASEBALL!"

In past years, celeb players have included Mavs players Jason Kidd and Jason Terry, Dallas Cowboys players DeMarcus Ware, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten; former Dallas Cowboys Daryl "Moose" Johnston and Drew Pearson; NHL All-Stars Mike Modabo and Brett Hull; actors Michael Clarke Duncan, Donald Faison and Geoff Stults; and dozens more.

Deron Williams Will Not Makes His Decision Based On Money

tjarks — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:48:34 -0000

At least according to everyone's (least) favorite NBA reporter and analyst Chris Broussard.

While there's always the possibility that his "anonymous sources" are friends of his who are idly speculating about free agency, they did have some interesting things to say about the Deron Williams sweepstakes:

Many believe the Brooklyn Nets, Williams' current team, have the advantage because they can give him a five-year, $108 million contract, while other suitors can offer only a four-year, $81 million deal. But Williams is a smart guy who has not wasted the significant amount of money he has already made. He knows that the difference between $81 million and $108 million will not alter his lifestyle, so don't expect Williams to sign with Brooklyn simply for the dollars.

Broussard notes that Williams and his family love living in the NYC area and he has close connections to people in the Nets organization, but he also reports that Dallas is still Williams' favorite city and the All-NBA PG thinks a pairing of him and Dirk Nowitzki could be a title contender.

As always, no one really knows anything until free agency begins, but for now it's fun to speculate, at least as long as speculation isn't completely ruling out the Mavericks.

VIDEO: Dirk Nowitzki Rocks Out On Stage With The Avett Brothers

brandon_k_scott — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:29:41 -0000

If I told you Dirk Nowitzki was a long lost Avett brother, would you believe it? Maybe Dirk getting down, tambourine in hand, on stage with The Avett Brothers in Grand Prairie could convince you. Check him out after the jump.

We often find players dancing when the season is over, if even it's to the detriment of their reputations. We remember Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots after he played in the Super Bowl with a bum ankle. Or when Tom Brady did this in Brazil last year.

Or how about our favorite, Mark Madsen at the 45-second mark of this clip celebrating the fact that he had the best timing of any professional athlete in professional sports history?

Dirk's a pretty chill dude, though, and I think we can see that here. Let's just hope, for the sake of Mavericks fans and the coveted free agent offseason/trade deadline to come, that Dirk comes back next season in post-hangover form.

Read more about the Dallas Mavericks at Mavs Moneyball.

Dwyane Wade Says Pacers 'Celebrated Like The Mavericks'

tjarks — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:43:11 -0000

After the Miami Heat's 78-75 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, Miami star Dwyane Wade had some choice comments about Indiana's celebration, referencing the Mavericks in the process:

Dwyane Wade: "I heard they wanted to be like the Dallas Mavericks. I saw their celebration after the game."
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 16, 2012

It's hard to even know what to make of these comments. They're clearly meant to be a knock on Indiana celebrating their first victory in a best-of-seven series, but why rope Dallas into this?

For that matter, it's not as if Wade has much room to stand on when it comes to knocking premature celebration.

But while the Pacers victory in Game 2 was nice, it's hard to compare them to the Mavericks since they don't have anyone comparable to Dirk Nowitzki or Tyson Chandler on their roster.

Either way, it's nice to know that Dallas victory last season still stings Miami's stars.

VIDEO/ANIMATED: Dirk Nowitzki's Incredible Last-Second Shot

Andy Hutchins — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:26:34 -0000

Dirk Nowitzki's been one of the NBA's best players and most ingenious scorers for so long that he's running out of new ways to put the ball in the hoop. But his one-legged last-second shot in the first quarter of Game 4 in the Dallas Mavericks' series against the Oklahoma City Thunder is probably new.

Like, really, what is this? Dirk can just receive inbounds passes and throw up the ball and it'll work? That's not fair.

The GIF of the shot is even more amusing, with Dirk throwing it up and spinning ad nauseam:

It really does look like a Harlem Globetrotters move or something. And it took less than a second! And the Mavericks are probably still going to get swept, because a) you really can't do this for the entirety of the game and b) it didn't go in.

...eh, maybe they should try anyway?

For all news and information regarding the Dallas Mavericks, please visit Mavs Moneyball or check out SB Nation Dallas. For updates and perspective on the Oklahoma City Thunder, head on over to Welcome to Loud City.

PHOTO: Nike Releases Dirk Nowitzki Inspired Air Force Ones

tjarks — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:35:28 -0000

While it's been nearly a year since Dirk Nowitzki was named MVP of the NBA Finals, Nike has finally released a pair of commemorative shoes to honor the Mavericks star forward's triumph.

The sneakers are emblazoned with a "DIRK" stamp across the back as well as a "12.06.11" (the date of Game 6) monogram, but the coolest feature is undoubtedly the image of a Dirk fade-away in place of the Jumpman logo.

Click past the jump for pictures (courtesy of Nike):