Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki Could Pass Hakeem Olajuwon Tuesday For 9th On NBA Scoring List

Dallas Mavericks star and future NBA Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki needs just 17 points against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday to pass Hakeem Olajuwon for 9th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

Olajuwon finished his 18-year career in 2002 with a total of 26,946 points. In his 17th season, Nowitzki stands poised to eclipse the former Rockets great with 26,930 points to his credit.

“I remember everybody crushing on him and killing on him as being another BWS [Big White Stiff],” owner Mark Cuban recollected from his time as a Mavs season ticket holder, via Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram. “Everybody was like, ‘Who is this guy and will he ever make it?’

“It took a little bit, but he worked hard and he got there.”

That hard work has been a trademark of Dirk's for his entire career. Despite an ebb and flow of talent around him in Dallas, Nowitzki has been remarkably consistent and downright dominant at times.

With just 17 points, Dirk adds another notch to a historic career that will only look better with age.

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