It won't be long before the recently-turned 39-year-old Dirk Nowitzki goes into his 20th season in the league, having gone from a near-bust in his rookie year, shooting only 40 percent from the field in limited minutes, to becoming the sixth most-prolific scorer the league has ever seen.
Looking back on his storied career and with greater perspective of the ups and downs he's faced with the Dallas Mavericks, the 7-footer and fadeaway extraordinaire gave some tips to the soon-to-be heir to the throne in Big D — Harrison Barnes.
A 6-foot-8 North Carolina product, Barnes has flourished since arriving in Dallas — becoming the main scoring option and putting up 19.2 points per game.
Barnes has soaked in a lot of Nowitzki's teachings through just one year with the team, always picking it up rather perceptively due to the German's joke-happy manners.
“Honestly, I've just been trying to work as hard as I can and spend as much time as I can with him in the gym,” Barnes told SportsDay Dallas Fort-Worth. “I remember one day at practice we're standing on the sidelines on the gym and said, ‘Oh man, Dirk, you're about to get to 20 years. That's impressive. Do you think I can get to 20 years?' He's like, ‘No way man. You need major skill to get to 20 years.'”
“So that's kind of the nature of our relationship. I just want to try to become the best basketball player that I can and follow the mold that he's set here in Dallas for years and years of just constantly getting better every single year.”
Nowitzki has built his career based on indisputable work ethic and a love for his craft — these few years where his career and Barnes' intersect can surely pave the way for a bright future for the 25-year-old.
“The biggest thing for me when I came to Dallas was how open and willing he was to work with young guys. Work on the court every day, be willing to talk, have access to,” said Barnes. “Guys of his status, All-Stars or future Hall of Famers, can kind of be distant, ‘I just want to finish up career and create my legacy.' But he's super down-to-earth and that's what I think helped us last year as far as my transition and me playing better. A lot of that gives credit to him.”
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