Dirk Nowitzki is kicking off his 20th NBA season tonight, every single one of which has come with the Mavericks. Only Kobe Bryant has played as many seasons for just one franchise. Nowitzki’s is an accomplishment of historic magnitude; you just don’t find many players with the combination of talent, longevity, and loyalty required to achieve that feat. You just don’t.
This season is about many things, and celebrating Nowitzki’s 20th is chief among them. This isn’t exactly a victory lap by any means; the guy can still play. Along his journey this season, the Big German has got the chance to make even more history by continuing to climb up the all-time scoring list.