Best player for your money: tough, relentless Nowitzki

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2004-12-06-one-on-one_x.htm

Best player for your money: tough, relentless Nowitzki
By David DuPree, USA TODAY

He isn't particularly flashy nor is he the fastest or the quickest guy in the league. He has put me on an island by myself.
The one player, above all others, I would pay to see on a regular basis is Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas. Not one reader who responded to this week's question sided with me as their votes were fairly equally divided among Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James.

There is just something about Nowitzki that makes him so intriguing. He's 7 feet tall and could very well be the best shooter in the league. He's tough, plays with pain and is relentless. Partly because of his size, shooting range and fearlessness, he is one of the most difficult players in the league to guard. I'm not saying he is the best player in the league, but he is worth watching. He has tremendous focus, rarely complains, talks trash or shows much emotion one way or the other. He does things in a matter-of-fact way and lets his game do all of his talking. He will pull up at any time from anywhere and let fly and the next minute he will go right at the basket and dunk on an unsuspecting defender. When you knock him down, he just gets back up.

Readers, however, prefer a little more pizzazz.

Chris Wootton of Dallas will pay to see Bryant any time. "He's simply the best basketball player in the world since Michael Jordan," Wootton said. "You can talk all you want to about him being a selfish player, about him being a narcissist, or his off-the-court problems, but like him or not, he's not only the best player in the world, but the most entertaining. If you want team ball, go watch the Pistons or Utah or even a college game. If you want to see the best player doing what nobody else can do on a regular basis ... it's Kobe Bryant."

Most saying Garnett and James are the ones they would pay to see like more about them than just their ability to excite the crowd.

"I have been immeasurably impressed with the class and aplomb that (James) has been playing the game with," said Juan Gonzalez of Gainesville, Fla. "From watching him play and listening to him talk to the media after the game, it seems that all the worship he received from the news media didn't affect his humility or passion for the game at all. And let's face it, the kid is physically gifted."

Garnett's passion, all-around game and total understanding of how to win were all alluded to by those who say he is the one player above all others they would pay to see on a regular basis.

"He brings total effort and passion to each game, along with an amazing lack of selfishness when it comes to the number of shots he demands," said Gary Sumner of Tallahassee, Fla. "To be your team's best player and not have to hoist up an unreasonable number of shots to get your numbers and never complain because all you care about is wins, says a lot about the type of player he is."

 

very good point...makes one wonder...