Is Dirk Nowitzki unique in his own way?

Bird is the greatest forward ever to play the game. He's the only forward in NBA history about whom one could argue that he's the best player ever.

Bird played against much stronger competition. The NBA during his career was not overrun with high school graduates and one-and-done college players.

Another difference: Nowitzki is soft (as are most European players), Bird was not.

Dirk has great offensive basketball skills, but Bird's career scoring average was higher, this despite the fact that Dirk hasn't hit the decline phase of his career yet. (Bird shot .496 for his career, Dirk is at .471)

Dirk does get to the FT line a little bit more than Bird (6.5x per game, compared to 5x/game for Bird...small difference but it adds up when you're talking careers of 800-900 games).

Bird was a vastly superior rebounder, with a career avg of 10 reb/game compared to only 8.6 for Dirk, despite playing on a front line with HOFers Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale (these guys all took rebounds away from each other). Dirk has shown that he can pull down 15-18 reb/game when he puts his mind to it, but he doesn't go all out every night in that area.

Bird had 3 seasons that exceeded Dirk's career high of 26.6 ppg (Bird had seasons of 29.9, 28.7 and 28.1)...

Dirk does take a lot more 3 pointers (he avg 3.4 per game, Bird only took 1.9 per game ), but their percentages are virtually identical (Dirk .379, Bird .376).

I actually like Nowitzki as an offensive player. He's got a great jump shot, and he is DEFINITELY one of the very,very best outside shooting seven-footers ever, probably THE best.

As I mentioned earlier, more often than not, he's a soft rebounder... he's capable of grabbing 15-18 boards a game when he wants to, but he does not push himself in that area.

The best game I've ever seen him play (considering the circumstances) was game 7 of the WCF at San Antonio in 2006... he scored 37 and grabbed 15 rebounds (Duncan had 41 and 15 in that game)... plus, he converted on a 3 point play (basket and foul, not a 3 pointer) that ended up being a huge key to the game (won by Dallas in OT).

Bird had to have more buzzer beaters though. He was insane in that area.

But you're correct in your premise here... there is no "next Larry Bird". And I think you're correct in saying that Dirk is an original. He's not Larry Bird, he's his own player. It would be great if he'd use his rebounding skills (which are excellent) night in and night out, but he's been a great player for many years. And yeah, not the best defender, but you can't argue with his offensive production. (Bird was all-defensive 2nd team three years in a row, 82-84).

And Dirk is not afraid of a challenge. He might not always come out on top, but he's not afraid to take the big shot when he needs to...and that type of player is rare. And he has hit more than his share of game winners.

He's worked hard on his skills over the years to become a good all-arond offensive player. One thing about Bird (and Magic) was that every year, he added something to his game that made him even better. As incredible as he was in college and his first couple of years in the NBA, even those performances seemed primitive when compared to his dominance during the mid-80s (when he won 3 straight MVP awards and two titles). He just kept getting better and better. I can't really say that Dirk has done the same with his game over the years.

I wouldn't mind seeing Dirk win a ring because he has worked hard. I wouldn't mind seeing him get back to the finals one day to see if he can redeem himself for the 2006 finals loss.

But yeah...while he's certainly not the next Bird, he's certainly the best of the "next Larry Birds"... from Detlef Schrempf (the original "next Bird) to Adam Morrison (the latest "next Bird')., Nowitzki is by far the best of the "next Birds"... and, to cap off his career, Dirk will make the HOF easily.

One could do worse than modeling their game after his. Plus, as far as I know, Dirk's never been a troublemaker or a disruptive force of any kind on the Mavs. He has a great attitude and is a team leader.

Yeah, he is a unique player. No 7 footer has ever been able to do the things he does especially shooting-wise. He's by far the best 7-foot 3 point shooter. But no big man at his size has had the ability to drive and draw fouls the way he does, or to turn and hit the fadeaway jumpshot. Also, no player his size has been as mobile as him on both ends of the floor. I think sometimes people forget just how much harder it is for a big man to move with his kind of speed.

I don't like the Bird/Nowitzki comparison too much because Larry Bird was only 6'9" and a small forward. He wasn't a big man. Even still Larry possesed great skill in just about every facet of the game especially the clutch. They do have some minor similarities, like shooting form and basketball IQ. Both are/were very smart players.

Being a 7-foot shooting big man, Dirk really is in a category of his own. Respectfully, Larry Bird is also in a category of his own.

Well probablly not the BEST outside shooter ever be he is in the conversation, and he has made a huge reputuation for himself.

Any bigman thats 7 feet tall and can shoot the 3ball has good talent. Yes Dirk does have a better outside game then an inside game because he is not must of a dribbler, althought he can create his own shot and step back for the jump shot. And he is an excellent free throw shooter. Shooting it at 89%. And he slowed down on the three pointers but he still does shoot it ever now and often. He has earned his place in the NBA and that MVP award he received acouple of years ago makes up for it. Dirk Nowitzki will go down as one of the best basketball players in all time. He is Hall of Fame Material. Hope I helped.

( The points are awesome so i was wondering if you can

vote me as best answer, thanks )

All Time Players? No way!!! but still dirk is very unique,its rare to see a big man be one of the most dominant shooters in the nba,and dirk has maybe the best turnaround fadeaway jumper in the league

Dirk is the best shooter right now, even better than Ray Allen. His release is just so smooth.

One of the things people critize him is how he is the choker is and stuff because no one on his team can play. Just like when Kobe chokes, people in this section are like, well no one on his team can help him.

You'll never see a superb outside shooting big man like Dirk again. He could shoot "anywhere", and "anyhow" from the floor, he's no spot up shooter, and he's definitely made several game winning shots.

Yes Dirk is a unique talent that will be hard to replicate. He has proven his ability to score, rebound, and do whatever is necessary for the team.

I 100% agree with TWEETY's answer. Bird is original in every way, like Dirk is original in every way. There will never ever be another Bird, there will never ever be another Dirk.

dirk has the best jump shot for a big man

yes even better than bargnadi

cause dirk has good defenders on him and he is still able to drain shoots

Dirk is a better rebounder, and yeah he is pretty unique, the best fade-away jumper Ive seen