Let me start by saying that I am a big Dirk Nowitzki fan. I think when his career is over that he will most likely be headed to Springfield (is Dominique Wilkins in yet?). Having said that I ran across this at ESPN web sight: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/roundup?conf=western GMs yearn to find the type of player F-C Dirk Nowitzki is: A 7-footer with five-position skills. The FIBA World Championships will feature such versatile international stars. Let me be the first to say, "No way! No how!” I am fixing to turn 38 and have been watching basketball regularly since I was about 10 and religiously since I was about 14. In that time I have only seen one player that possessed 5 position skills. His name was Magic Johnson. Magic is the lone player that would have been an NBA all star at any position he played. Big enough in height and bulk to pound with the big boys in the paint, quick enough and agile enough run with the little men on the perimeter. Dirk could not guard someone of Cats ability one on one in his dreams much less on an NBA basketball court. And please someone tell me what Dirk has ever done to make anyone think that he knows how to pass the pall. Dirk is a three-position player and a damn good one but there is no way that he could survive in the backcourt. I would like to see Dirk try and stop a Steve Francis or Allen Iverson crossover or try to make a living dribbling up the court against the likes of Gary Payton. I am a huge Dirk Nowitzki fan but please! we must stop the foolish comparisons to people like Magic or Bird. Dirk can rebound and shoot. He does not involve his teammates nor does he know how to play defense. Maybe someday he will develop some of those tools but until he at least shows the aptitude to fulfill those responsibilities then the ridiculous comparisons should stop. Its unfair to Dirk and its damn sure unfair to guys like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
Well, if Moochie grew out his afro for another 5 years, he'd be 8 feet tall with guard-like quickness.
Dirk seems to provoke lots of over- and underrating. It seems like there's no month without "Dirk is Jesus! He will be better than Larry Legend!"- or "Irk has no D at all! He can't pass! No way he'll ever get far with that! No post up game whatsoever! He never gets duble teams!"-articles. And yes, the 5 position talk is crap.
Just tossing this out there to think about. Last season, on the night of the NVE+Raef for Howard trade, Boston came rolling into Dallas looking to take advantage of the situation. NVE, Raef and AJ arrived at the AAC in the 3rd quarter of the game and sat in Cuban's luxury box. TAW hadn't even left Denver yet. Dallas could only suit up 8 players for the game - Fin, Dirk, Nash, Newman, Esch, Bradley, Najera, and Wang. Do you see any back-up PG's there? Neither do I. A limping, exhausted Nash played only 32 mins - 16/4/4. Boston had gone up big in this game, and the Mavs rallied to win at the end 98 - 92. But, an important stretch late in this game came when Nash was resting and DIRK was helping Fin man the point. With Dirk often at the top of the key on offense, the comeback began. 'Nitwitz' finished with 33 pts, 23 rebs, and 8 freakin' assists. (4 blocks, too) Dallas' gimicky defense sees Dirk playing small guys on the perimeter all the time. He backs way off so they can't drive around him, but is quick enough to flash a long-ass arm at them if they pull up to shoot. No, I don't think he's Magic Johnson, but who is next in line after Magic with the size and skill requirements? Dirk's gotta be creeping up that list, doesn't he? Dirk article
Even though he's not a superstar quality player, i'd say that Antoine Walker is the closest to a 5 position player that the NBA has right now.
The worst instance I've heard of a five position player? Tim Thomas. He can't even come nearly as close as most of these players to being a 3 position player, yet alone a 5 position player.
i love dirk, but hes no 5 position player. he would get absolutely murdered trying to defend guards, and some quicker small forwards. i think what they meant by 5 position skills, is that dirk has the ability to bring the ball up the court like a guard in addition to the big man skills he already posseses. granted, he doesnt have great passing skills yet, but hopefully those will come in time. shaq wasnt the world's greatest passer when he came into the league, but he's now one of the best passing big men.
I was out of line with that KG comment. I was thinking about his ablilty to guard all five postions, my bad. But as far as a 5 position player, to be honest with you those type players are once in a lifetime. I'm 15, I haven't been able to watch one his prime. So you got me.
i'm tellin you guys...walker is a 5 position player: -pg- he takes the ball up the court for the celtics a lot of the time. -sg- he made the 2nd most 3's last year and took the most attempts. his 3 pt % is 38.5% in 16 playoff games. On career averages, he is a better 3pt shooter than many elite sg's (his career average is 33.5% for the three point shot) including Kobe, Iverson, Michael Jordan, and many more. -sf- he is a top notch scorer and rebounder, definately able to play this position. -pf- this is his position. -c- he could bully it up with most of the centers in the league, the only center that would really dominate him would be shaq.
Maybe, but I would still take Dirk over Walker any day of the week. And so would 29 GMs in the league. BET ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (ok, it's starting to get old )
3814 - Bringing the ball up the court doesn't mean he can play point guard; to truly be able to be considered as a point guard-like player, he'd also have to be able to dribble and penetrate the defense, kick the ball out to the open shooter, and to defend opposing point guards...all things he is either unwilling or incapable of doing. Just because he can shoot threes well doesn't make him a shooting guard, either. Heck, Raef LaFrentz can shoot threes pretty well, but that doesn't make him a shooting guard either. Walker can play SF (note how it's a common role for the small forward to bring the ball up the court; Hill, Mason, Kobe, McGrady, etc all do it), PF, and occasionally center...but there's no way he can play PG or SG. Dirk, however, has the quickness and handles to *potentially* be able to do it, though I don't think he could either.
KG is the one player who comes closest to being a 5 position player offensively and most importantly, defensively. Dirk is a 0 position defender. And about 4 positions offensively. KG has very good handling, good passing skills, shooting range, and a decent post-up game, which basically means he can score no matter what the role. Defensively, KG is among the best in the NBA. I think his strength would lie on perimeter defense. He can defend 4 positions effectively, but I'm not sold that he's a very good low post defender. With that being said, there is no one close to being a 5 position player. KG comes the closest on both ends of the floor. Antoine Walker is somewhat close offensively, except that he rarely scores inside.
Agreed on some points. I disagree that dirk could potentially be a PG-type guy. He doesn't pass nearly good enough to be close that comparison. He obviously has good handles, but lacks good passing skills.
