Dirk Nowitzki is regarded as one of the best European players in the league as a result of his exploits during his illustrious career with the Dallas Mavericks. However, Mavs minority owner Mark Cuban caused a stir when he recently claimed on Shannon Sharpe’s ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast that Luka Doncic outranks the German.
Mark Cuban on the show had nothing but good words for the man who gave the Mavs their one and only NBA championship. But he just thinks that despite all of his greatness and mental strength, last season’s scoring champion is better than him despite playing fewer seasons than Nowitzki.
Dirk is mentally tougher than any human I’ve ever met in my life… Dirk had that mindset that was stronger than maybe anybody other than Michael Jordan. Luka, on the other hand, in terms of actual skill and killer instinct. Luka can handle the ball. Dirk needed somebody to get him the ball. That’s the only reason.
Mark Cuban said on Club Shay Shay
. @mcuban On @luka7doncic vs @Grant2Will:
“Trash talking Luka will never end well. I’ve tried to trash talk him for fun and he gives me the stink eye. You are not doing that to Luka and Grant found out the hard way.” pic.twitter.com/tyTZg5A3R3
— Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) September 27, 2024
Fans of the German would find the comments amusing as Luka Doncic is yet to achieve most of what Nowitzki achieved in his time in the league. Meanwhile, fans of Doncic would argue that his stats are better, especially his playmaking skills as he nearly averaged a triple-double last season with 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.
Mark Cuban apparently doesn’t want to make the same mistakes he made with Dirk Nowitzki with Doncic, no wonder he constantly hypes his best player whenever he gets the opportunity to. But Doncic would have to win the league with the Mavs to be considered as great as Dirk Nowitzki.
Why Luka Doncic may never surpass Dirk Nowitzki as the Mavericks’ greatest player?
Last season was supposed to be the Dallas Mavericks’ year as Luka Doncic had led them to their third NBA Finals appearance, he showcased his brilliance when he led the league in scoring and made the All-NBA First-Team for the fifth consecutive year. Despite these achievements, the Mavericks still fell to the Boston Celtics, and as a result Doncic still ranks second in franchise history according to former Mavs player J.J. Barea.
Dirk Nowitzki is an all-time Mav forever. There’s no way. Luka could be the best player in the world forever and Dirk would still be there, the best Maverick of all time… He made the Mavericks what it is.
J. J. Barea said on Run it Back podcast
Is Luka Doncic the best Mavs player of all-time?@jjbareapr: “No… Dirk Nowitzki is an all-time Mav forever. There’s no way.” pic.twitter.com/yBVRgirg7t
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 11, 2024
Taking Dirk Nowitzki’s side was Barea who was a member of the Mavericks’ 2011 championship team and believed that the title belonged to Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki’s legendary status in the city is unmatched and he led the franchise to its first NBA Finals in 2006 and then won MVP the following year. Although the team fell short in 2006 and faced a first-round exit in 2007, Nowitzki ultimately redeemed himself when he led the Mavericks to a victory over the heavily-favored Miami Heat in the 2011 Finals.
His legacy was honored with a statue outside the American Airlines Center, showing fans his place as the greatest Maverick. Furthermore, while Doncic continues to build an impressive resume, it would take a holy grail to surpass Nowitzki’s status in the franchise, and that would be a huge step.
