Dirk Nowitzki is the best player from the 1998 NBA Draft

Friday, July 24, 2020

 

The 1998 NBA Draft was a draft to remember.  It took place on June 24, 1998, and helped turn around struggling franchises like the Sacramento Kings, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Toronto Raptors.  It featured athletes incredible athletes such as Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, and Mike Bibby.  But, in my opinion, the best player from the draft is Dirk Nowitzki.

Dirk Nowitzki was drafted as the ninth pick by the Milwaukee Bucks and then quickly traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent his entire 21-season career.  He’s well-recognized as, not just one of the greatest Maverick players of all-time, but one of the greatest power forwards of all-time.

He’s able to adapt to different situations and can shoot the ball extremely well for a power forward.  His one-legged fadeaway is an unstoppable move that he has mastered time and time again.  Not only can he shoot but he can also do all the other things that your typical power forward can do, from rebounding to dominating the paint.

Dirk Nowitzki wasn’t very productive during his rookie season but then again, he was just a rookie.  During his first season, he averaged 8.2 points per game, along with 3.4 rebounds a game, 1.0 assists a game, 0.6 steals a game, and 0.6 blocks a game.  He shot 41% from the field while shooting 21% from beyond the arc.  He finished with a true shooting percentage of 49%.

During his time in Dallas, Nowtizki was a 14-time All-Star who was named to the All-NBA First Team four times, the All-NBA Second Team five times and the All-NBA Third Team three times.  He was also named league MVP during the 2006-2007 season in which he joined the 50-40-90 club (when you shoot 50% from the field, 40% of the three-point line, and 90% from the free-throw line).

Dirk Nowitzki averaged 20.7 points per game during his career, along with 7.5 rebounds a game, 2.4 assists a game, 0.8 steals a game, and 0.8 blocks a game.  As stated before, Dirk was an excellent shooter for a big man.  He shot 47% from the field while knocking down 38% of his three-pointers.  He finished his career with a true shooting percentage of 58%.  He also finished with 143.8 offensive win shares and 62.6 defensive win shares.

Currently, Dirk Nowitzki is the Dallas Mavericks’ all-time leader in points with 31,560, their all-time leader in rebounds with 11,489, their all-time leader in blocks with 1,281, and their all-time leader in three-pointers made with 1,982.  He is also their fourth all-time leader in assists with 3,651 and their second all-time leader in steals with 1,210.

The European player led the Mavericks to the playoffs 15 times, winning one championship in 2011 while being named Finals MVP.  During the playoffs, Nowitzki averaged 25.3 points a game, along with 10.0 rebounds a game, 2.5 assists a game, 1.0 steals a game, and 0.9 blocks a game.  He shot 46% from the field while knocking down 37% of his three-pointers.  He finished with a combined true shooting percentage of 58%.  He also finished with 18.0 offensive win shares and 5.1 defensive win shares.

As of right now, Dirk Nowitzki is the Dallas Mavericks’ all-time leader in points scored during the playoffs with a total of 3,663.  He is also their all-time leader in rebounds with 1,446, their all-time leader in assists with 360, their all-time leader in steals with 149 and their all-time leader in blocks with 129.  He is, though, their second all-time leader in three-pointers made with 149.

The 1998 draft class was definitely one for the books and it helped out so many franchises.  Not only did it feature Nowitzki, Carter and Pierce but there were players like Rashard Lewis, Antawn Jamison and Cuttino Mobley.  But, in my opinion, the best player from that draft is Dirk Nowitzki.

Vince Carter is the greatest Toronto Raptors player of all-time

Sunday, July 9, 2020

 

The Toronto Raptors were founded in 1995 and they have just recently reached their goal:  They were the NBA champions last year.  It marked their first championship even though they made a total of 12 playoff appearances.  They have had a lot of talented players on their rosters but the greatest Raptors player of all-time, in my opinion, is Vince Carter.

If “age ain’t nothing but a number” was a person, it would be Vince Carter.  Okay, that was a corny joke…sorry.  But, nevertheless, Carter is the only player to play 22 seasons and in four different decades.  That’s pretty amazing.  He was well-known for his spectacular dunks, giving him nicknames such as “Half Man, Half Amazing” but he can still score from different areas of the court, as well.  He was definitely a marquee athlete.

Carter played with the Raptors for the first seven seasons of his career.  During his time there, he was a five-time All-Star who was named to the All-NBA Second Team and Third Team once each.  He averaged 23.4 points per game, along with 5.2. rebounds a game, 3.9 assists a game, 1.3 steals a game, and 1.0 blocks a game.  He could also shoot the ball well.  He shot 45% from the field while knocking down 38% of his three-pointers.  He finished with a true shooting percentage of 53%.

As of right now, Vince Carter is the Toronto Raptors’ fourth all-time leader in points with 9,420.  He is also their eighth all-time leader in rebounds with 2,091, their sixth all-time leader in assists with 1,553, their fifth all-time leader in steals with 534, their fourth all-time leader in blocks with 415, and their fifth all-time leader in three-pointers made with 554.

Carter helped the Raptors make the two seasons in a row but unfortunately, could never win a championship.  He did, however, average 25.7 points per game in the playoffs.  He also averaged 6.4 rebounds a game, 5.0 assists a game, 1.5 steals a game, and 1.6 blocks a game.  He shot 42% from the field while drilling 37% of his three-pointers.  He finished with a combined true shooting percentage of 51%.

Currently, Vince Carter is the Toronto Raptors’ seventh all-time leader in points scored during the playoffs with 385.  He is also their 15th all-time leader in rebounds with 96, their eighth all-time leader in assists with 75, their eighth all-time leader in steals with 23, their sixth all-time leader in blocks with 24, and their 12th all-time leader in three-pointers made with 26.

Although the Raptors just won their first championship last season, they still have had a lot of great, talented players on their rosters.  They’ve had guys like Chris Bosh, Alvin Williams, and even Carter’s cousin, Tracy McGrady.  Recently, the Raptors featured stars Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan who are no longer with the franchise.  But they still have Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam, who are spectacular.  But, in my opinion, the greatest Raptors player of all-time is Vince Carter.

Bill Russell is the greatest Boston Celtics player of all-time

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

 

The Boston Celtics are one of the most successful franchises in American sports history.  They were formed on June 6, 1946, and since then, they won a total of 17 championships which is the most in the NBA.  There are also a lot of legends who played for the green and white but the greatest Celtic, in my opinion, is Bill Russell.

Bill Russell is one of the most decorated athletes in sports history.  His resume is outstanding.  He’s an 11-time champion…that’s right…11-TIME CHAMPION.  He’s also a 12-time All-Star who led the league in rebounding four times (twice in a row each) and was even named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 1969.  Not to mention, he won league MVP five times (three times in a row).

He played with the Boston Celtics for his entire career (13 seasons).  During his time with the Celtics, he averaged 15.1 points per game, along with 22.5 rebounds per game and 4.3 assists a game.  He even scored extremely well as he shot 44% from the field, finishing with a true shooting percentage of 47%.

As of right now, Russell is the Celtics’ all-time leader in rebounding with a total of 21,620.  He is also their eighth all-time leader in points scored with 14,522 and their sixth all-time leader in assists with 4,100.

Bill Russell has helped the Celtics reach the playoffs every year he played with them.  That’s mighty impressive!  During the playoffs, he averaged 12.8 points a game, along with 19.7 rebounds a game and 3.7 assists a game.  Currently, he is their all-time leader in rebounding during the playoffs with 4,104 rebounds.  He is also their seventh all-time leader in points with 2,673 and their fifth all-time leader in assists with 770.

As you can see, even though he dealt with some controversy during his career, it never distracted him from becoming one of the most successful athletes in American sports history.  Of course, you have greats like Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and John Havlicek who played for the Boston Celtics but Bill Russell’s resume will support him being the greatest Celtic to ever play.

Should the Toronto Raptors retire Vince Carter’s jersey?

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

 

With the Atlanta Hawks’ season coming to an end early due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s safe to say that Vince Carter will now enter retirement.  His career was inspiring both on and off the court.  But does that qualify for any of his jerseys to be retired?  Yes.  I believe his Toronto Raptors jersey will go up in the rafters.  Don’t get me wrong:  He played outstanding on the other teams he suited up for but his time in Canada was remarkable.

While playing for the Raptors, Carter made the All-Star team five straight times (playing in only four after giving up his 2002 All-Star spot to Michael Jordan) and started in all of them.  He also made the All-NBA Second Team in 2001 and the All-NBA Third Team in 2000.

He led the Raptors to their very first playoff appearance in 2000 but fell to the New York Knicks in the first round, 0-3.  After that, he helped the Raptors reach the playoffs again the next season as he led them with a 47-win season.  Unfortunately, he was never able to win them a championship (he never won a title in his career).

Although he dealt with knee and hamstring injuries during his career, he was still able to put on a show with a stack full of highlight dunks, eventually making him one of the greatest dunkers this game has ever seen.  He was so great at it that he even won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.

Vince Carter played for the Toronto Raptors during his first seven seasons in the NBA.  He is their fourth all-time leader in points scored with a total of 9,420.  He is also their eighth all-time leader in rebounds with 2,091, their sixth all-time leader in assists with 1,553, their fifth all-time leader in steals with 534, their fourth all-time leader in blocks with 415, and their fifth all-time leader in three-pointers made with 554.

As you can see, Carter is in the top-ten of leaders in almost every Raptor statistic.  His time in Canada was inspirational and that, along with the reasons I’ve stated above, is why I think the Toronto Raptors should retire his jersey.