Much like Hall of Fame shooting guard Michael Jordan, retired Dallas Mavericks legendary power forward Dirk Nowitzki was motivated by perceived slights. In the case of the 2011 NBA Finals, which saw the Mavs rematched with their 2006 Finals adversary Miami Heat, a jab by stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade “sealed” the Finals MVP's Game 5 performance en route to the franchise first and only championship.

Per Caron Butler on FOX Sports Southwest:

“When Dirk got sick … I'll never forget him being mocked by a good friend of mine, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. And we saw the video of them coughing and making fun of the whole situation.

“When [Dirk] had got wind of people not thinking he's not built for the moment, he was just dialed in to a whole other level.

“I knew we was going to have a parade in Dallas. That moment right there when that happened, and I seen his focus … he took it there. I was like, ‘oh it's a wrap. Y'all just won us a championship!'”

Nowitzki, who retired at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season after a 21-year stint with the Mavs in the NBA as a 14-time All-Star, one-time league MVP, and one-time champion, put up 29 points, six rebounds, and three assists in nearly 40 minutes, shooting 9-of-18 from the field in the script-flipping fifth game of the 2011 series.

After splitting the first four games with the Heat, the Mavs won by a nine-point margin at home in Game 5. They later clinched the franchise's first title in Game 6 on the road, buoying James' dream of a championship in his first year with Miami.

James and Wade, along with big man Chris Bosh, would later win the next two NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. But Nowitzki's revenge was sweet five years removed from a remarkable comeback by D-Wade and Miami in the 2006 championship.