Dirk has quietly been putting together a renaissance season at the age of 37 and like a fine wine he shot seems to get better with age (unlike another certain NBA superstar of Dirk’s era who is nicknamed Vino…).
Through 19 games of the 2015-16 NBA season, Dirk is shooting 50.4% from the field, 44.6% from three point range and 90.6% from the free throw line.
Since the three point shot was introduced in the NBA in 1979-80, Nowitzki is one of only eight players who have accomplished that feat in a season, here are the other seven:
Steve Nash 4x
Larry Bird 2x
Reggie Miller
Mark Price
Steve Kerr
Jose Calderon
The only other time Dirk accomplished the vaunted 50-40-90 feat in his 17-year career was in his MVP 2006-007 season in which he shot 50.2%-41.6%-90.2%.
Steve Nash is the oldest player to shoot 50-40-90 for a season doing it for the last time in the 2009-10 season at the age of 35.
Dirk is also only 163 points away from passing Shaq for 6th on the all time NBA scoring list.
Dirk is another superstar of the 2000s who may be riding off into the sunset sooner rather than later, so appreciate what you’re watching as we may never see another 7’0″ plodding, herky jerky, German with beautiful golden locks and a lethal one legged fadeaway ever again.
