In his 20th season in the league, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki is still going strong playing in a sizable role on the court. Despite his playing time dwindling down, he has shown the ability to be an effective and durable player at this stage of his illustrious NBA career.

This has helped him continue to pass major individual milestones along the way that have further cemented his legacy as a future Hall of Famer when all is said and done. According to Bobby Karalla of Mavs.com, Nowitzki has passed up Jason Kidd, a former teammate that he won a championship with back in 2011, for fourth-most minutes played in league history.

https://twitter.com/bobbykaralla/status/967254250819551233

The next three spots now above Nowitzki in league history are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (57,446), Karl Malone (54852), and Kevin Garnett (50418). If he's able to stay healthy for the rest of this season, there is a strong chance he passes Garnett over the next couple of weeks meanwhile both Malone and Abdul-Jabbar would require him to play a few more seasons to have a chance to top one or both of them in this category.

This impressive feat is a huge milestone as it speaks to Nowitzki's strong dedication to the game that has helped push through to playing two decades in the NBA, which is something that only a select few have done in league history. His ability to remain healthy enough to play in nearly every game this season is a testament to his commitment to his health and care for his body throughout the course of the season.

Dirk Nowitzki

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Mavericks Clippers prediction

Jake Faigus ·

Luka Doncic teammate and Jason Kidd mentee Mavericks Daniel Gafford amid NBA Playoffs clash with Clippers

Jay Postrado ·

Mavericks' Dereck Lively II looking serious in front with Mavericks' logo in background.

Joey Mistretta ·

What has been equally impressive is that Nowitzki has remained an effective scorer on the floor that makes a positive impact on his team. Heading into Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, he was averaging 12.3 points on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc, which was tied for 12th-best in the league with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver.

With still a sizable chunk of the season still left, Nowitzki should be in line to add a few more feats to his name. In the meantime, this gives a chance to show a greater appreciation for the longevity that he has had over his sure-fire Hall of Fame career.