Wednesday, June 15th, 2011 at 9:35 am  |  95 responses

Rick Carlisle: ‘Dirk Nowitzki Is the Best Basketball Player on This Planet’


In the rush of excitement over Dirk Nowitzki’s stirring Playoff performances this year, many have understandably gone overboard when attempting to rank Dirk historically. Nowitzki’s coach, Rick Carlisle, goes overboard when assessing the German’s place in today’s game. From SRI (via ESPN radio): “What has changed since they won the NBA Championship: ‘For me the most drastic change was there was kind of this calm for two months and then all of the sudden Mark Cuban was everywhere again. He was in the interview room and he was on TV. I was so happy for him. Him and I had an embrace as the horn went off and I just told him how thrilled I was for him and for all the people, there have been people that have worked for this franchise for 30 years that have waited and waited and labored and tried to sell tickets during cold periods of seven, eight, or nine years. Donnie Nelson and Nellie, they find a way to come up with Dirk Nowitzki and then things started getting better. Then it’s (Steve) Nash and (Michael) Finley and all those guys. Then there’s 2006 and the disappointment of that. The five years between then and now have been up and down and there’s been inconsistency, but this year was defined by a team that really was focused, the acquisition of (Tyson) Chandler made all the difference in the world to us on so many different levels. The season, the success really came down to two things: Resourcefulness and being opportunistic. This was not the most talented team in the playoffs by any stretch, but it was the smartest team, the most together team, the most committed team, and it was a team that was extremely tough. As we’re the only ones left in I can tell you right now two things. We are the toughest team on the planet. The second thing that I know for sure at this moment, Dirk Nowitzki is the best basketball player on this planet.’”

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  • http://slamonline.com AllBall

    Oh, and Caboose, there is no way Rose is currently better than Dirk. They played against the Heat one after another, didn’t you catch that? Dirk is the single biggest mis-match in the L.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    okdirk is not the best.. wayno is absolutely right.. and dirk plays decent defense but lebron is far better defensively. and a better passer by far. the only thing dirk has on lebron is a better offensive arsenal.. and clutchness doesn’t necessairly mean your better it just means your clutch. robert horry is clutch but that doesnt mean he’s a great player. and kobe can’t be in the discussion anymore he’s past his prime AND injured. his knees barely work.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    LeBron was inarguably the best player in the league leading up to the finals. Holy Alzheimer’s do you people really forget stuff that happened 3 weeks ago? Dirk is probably the best offensive player in the NBA, probably. But best player overall? That’s still LeBron, despite his troubles against ONE team.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    statistically though… a case could be made for the homie cp3 INCREDIBLE all around game..passing,defense, varied and efficient arsenal..stop sleeping chris paul is NICE. and wade has to be considered top 5 as well..in this series wade was almost as nice as dirk.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    cosign nbk

  • http://slamonline.com AllBall

    Inarguable to who? You? TrueHoops post season MVP was Dirk and Bron about 60/40 I believe going into the Finals. Dirk was torching OKC and people were saying he might be the best in the league then. Like I said, for the past two months (looking at it altogether) Dirk was the best player.

  • Conoro

    The guy who said that James’ D is better than Kobe’s and Wade’s needs to find a new damned sport to watch. LOL

  • http://slamonline.com AllBall

    CP3 was the best player in the post season whilst he was playing, but he wasn’t playing long enough.

  • http://slamonline.com Tracy

    “You are now rocking with the best!”

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    You can’t be the best player in the league if you don’t play D or rebound with some volume as a 7 footer. That’s ridiculous. BUT….He was the best player in the playoffs….no doubt.

  • Kid Viscious

    Um well the Best player on the planet resides on the bench of the Charlotte Bobcats bench… I don’t think he needs an introduction we all wear his shoes as a fashion statement and not as hoop shoes *cough cough* Kobe’s and Lebrons

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Kobe. Maybe he’s not the youngest, most athletic, but he is the most skilled. I’ll put me money on Kobe every day and twice monday through saturday.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    AllBall MVP and Best are different. If you can’t see that Dirk is not even a good defender then what’s the point of this conversation? I Hate that people rate players overall on offensive skill, basketball is not football, you don’t run off the court for defense. LeBron played bad against ONE team, ONE, against a great defender, with great veteran help all around (defense is a team effort first, which is why Dallas did what they did to the best scorers (plural) in the league). I am not making excuses for how horrid LeBron was, especially in 4th quarters, but does that make me forget the rest of the playoffs, the season, the last 8 years? No. 6 games has really screwed all of your perceptions up this bad? 6 games? whether its finals or not, a game is a game.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Kobe hasn’t really been in the conversation as best player since 08, realistically. Individuals get too much credit for Championships.

  • Cole

    Maybe the best pure shooter, alongside Ray Allen. But best player? Have you seen him play defense?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Kobe has gotten way too slow on D to be considered anywhere near an elite defender anymore. LBJ was an absolute terror on D throughout the playoffs.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    I’ll still put my money on Kobe Bryant if I know he’s healthy.

  • JoeMaMa

    Best – definition: “of the highest quality, excellence, or standing”. Based on his performance, Dirk is the best.

  • http://slamonline.com SpaceJam

    Scoring Dirk is top 3 in the league with Durant and Carmelo. But in all-around game you have to put LeBron in there along with d-wade and a healthy Chris Paul (as illustrated during the playoffs when he was back to his normal self).

  • Karley

    Dirk on offense is my all time fav but he is running up the floor before even looking for a rebound. He needs desire on defense and not just a will to score.. Not as good as MJ, wait did Pippen say Dirk was yet?

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Dirk is not the best player in NBA, only a DUMMY would believe that. People are so prisoner of the moment when a player plays well for a stretch. What happen last year Dirk, 5 years ago Dirk. The thing is Dirk did beat the other good teams in West, but Jason Terry, JJ Barea, Jason Kidd, especially Tyson Chandler defense played a HUGE ROLE in Dirk getting a ring. Next year when Dallas and Dirk FLAME out people will change their tune on him. Dallas is a TEAM and thats why they won, not because DIRK is best player on planet. Last year Dirk doesn’t make SLam TOP 15 players in NBA, now people got him at TOP 5 in NBA. WHAT IS AMERICA COMING TOO. BOOK IT!!

  • Kevin Jackson

    SACRELEDGE!!!! THERE IS NO PLAYER NONE,ZIP,ZERO,NATHA PLAYER IN THIS CURRENT NBA CROWD BETTER THAN KOBE BRYANT!!! PEOPLE ARE GETTING AMNESIA BECAUSE THE LAKERS GOT SWEPT!!! LOGIC PEOPLE LOGIC DOES A FOUR GAME SWEEP OF A TEAM THAT’S WON 16 TITLES NEGATE ALL THAT TEAM HAS ACCOMPLISHED???? DOES IT NEGATE THE GREATNESS OF KOBE BRYANT??

    DIRK IS A GREAT PLAYER BUT, HE IS NOWHERE NEAR THE COMPLETE PLAYER THAT KOBE BRYANT IS! AND EVEN THOUGH KOBE DOESNT MAKE ANY EXCUSES FOR HIS INJURIES A SWOLLEN FOOT,A BROKEN FINGER,KNEE ISSUES DOES AFFECT HIS PLAYING ABILITY!!! SECONDLY KOBE DID NOT COST THE LAKERS THE SERIES AGAINST DALLAS,HIS TEAM QUIT ON HIM,THERE WERE THOSE WHO COMPLAINED THAT KOBE WASNT GETTING HIS TEAMMATES INVOLVED WITH THE SCORING YET IF YOU REVISIT THAT SERIES THE CLOSET THEY EVER SCORED ON DALLAS WAS WHEN KOBE DOMINATED THE ROCK!!! THEY ONLY LOST BY 2 POINTS THEN WHAT HAPPENDED???

    KOBE STARTED TO GET HIS TEAMMATES INVOLVED AND WHAT DID THEY DO OVER THE NEXT 3 GAMES? THEY COULD HIT THE BROAD SIDE OF A BARN,PAU GASOL WAS ON SLEEPING PILLS BEAR IN MIND THIS WAS THE SAME LAKERS TEAM THAT BEAT DALLAS TWICE IN THE REGULAR SEASON,THE SAME LAKER TEAM THAT RAN OFF A 17 GAME WIN STREAK AFTER THE ALL STAR BREAK,THE SAME LAKER TEAM THAT TIED THE DALLAS MAVERICKS FOR SECOND BEST RECORD IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE,THE SAME LAKER TEAM THAT AT ONE POINT IN 2 OF THE GAMES THEY PLAYED,WAS UP ON DALLAS BY DOUBLE DIGIT LEADS!!!

    PLEASE THIS IS MADNESS KOBE WILL HEAL OVER THE SUMMER HE WILL BE PRACTICING…..SOMETHING HE ADMITTED HE DIDNT DO BECAUSE OF HIS KNEE LAST SEASON SO I THINK IT IS WAY PAST PREMATURE FOR PEOPLE TO THINK THAT THE LAKERS ARE DONE THEY ARE NOT!!!! AND AS FAR AS THE AGE ISSUE THERE ARE PLAYERS ON THE MAVERICKS WHO ARE MUCH OLDER THAN PLAYERS ON THE LAKERS ROSTER……THINK PEOPLE GO BACK AND WATCH YOUTUBE OVER KOBE’S CAREER AND THEN STOP SMOKING THAT PIPE,IT WILL DISTORT REALITY

    EVEN DIRK NOWITSKI SAID THAT WHENEVER HE GETS THE CAHNCE AND HE KNOWS KOBE BRYANT IS PLAYING HE WATCHES KOBE BRYANT!!! AS A MATTER OF FACT HE SAID WHEN KOBE IS PLAYING HE TELLS ANYONE AROUND HIM TO LEAVE HIM ALONE IT’S KOBE TIME!!

    NOW LETS ANALYZE THE GAMES FOR A MOMENT….ARE YOU SERIOUS? DIRK HAS THE LOW POST MOVE KOBE BRYANT HAS?? DIRK PLAYS THE DEFENSE KOBE BRYANT DOES? DIRK HAS THE ATHLETICISM KOBE BRYANT HAS (DIRK DOESNT HAVE KOBE BRYANTS ATHLETICISM EVEN WITH BRYANTS BAD KNEE) DIRK HAS KOBES 5 RINGS?

    SOMETIMES I THINK PEOPLE JUST GET ON POST AND SAY THINGS WITHOUT EVEN THINKING!!! MJ SAID ON 2 OCCASIONS AND I QUOTE”KOBE BRYANT IS THE BEST ALL AROUND PLAYER OF THIS GENERATION PERIOD!!! AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK LEBRON IS BETTER,UNTILLEBRON JAMES GETS A LOW POST GAME,A MEDIUM GAME,HEART AND KILLER INSTINCT,NOT ONLY IS HE “NOT” MICHAEL JORDAN…HE’S “NOT” KOBE BRYANT LEBRONS GAME IS THE LONG BALL AND THE DUNK, THER IS NO PLAYER IN THIS LEAGUE THAT HAS AS MANY LOW POST MOVES AS KOBE BRYANT!

  • j smith

    Carmelo is the best player and most clutch. I would have Melo over Lebron, Kobe, and Dirk.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Smh

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    I didn’t bother reading most of Kevin’s comment because it looks like it hurt while he typed it.

  • Josh

    I give Diggler props for having a great playoff run. I give him props for beating up on some pretty good teams and some pretty great players during that run. I do not, in any way shape or form, think he should be considered the best basketball player on the planet. Kobe, Bron, Wade, Durant (at least) before Disco. Come on Jim Carrey, you’re better than that.

  • http://www.google.com/news BETCATS

    He was the best player on the best team. So for this NBA season, technically he is.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ KB8

    Rick Carlisle: drunk.

  • http://yahoo.com sam

    that statement was only made due ecstacy for being this year’s NBA Champions.Carlisle is correct Dirk is the best player on the planet BUT ONLY TODAY, because there are great all around players before him,MICHAEL JORDAN, LARRY BIRD,MAGIC JOHNSON, ETC.The dclaration is understandible because coach carlisle reach the dream of every coach.TO BECOME COACH OF A CHAMPION TEAM.I noticed, he is different from Phil Jackson, who coach the Chicago Bulls who dominated the NBA in the 90′s but has never give appreciating statements to the greatest player of all time!maybe he is the same with SCOTCH BRITE PIPPEN, who did not appreciate his 6 rings and championship trophy achieved because of great plays of that great player beside him.thanks also to the owner of that team who considered their championship trophy as a TRASH.KUDOS to Coach Ric Carlisle and his Mavs.

  • Demirci

    Rick Carlisle: correct.

  • Ronald

    His D is pretty atrocious. His weakside help defense consists of him shoving the guy dunking in the mid-section. But his offense and “clutchness” during this post season has elevated him to the Debatable Best Active Player Right Now status. All the other players have serious flaws too.

  • al

    no.
    jordan….,
    is still the best player on the planet,
    just tell him different and he will still bring anybody back to earth while using naysayers as motivation

  • Clintstrong

    Dirk really…might as well say Nash is the best pg of all time while your at it

  • Clintstrong

    Dirk aka Bob Mcadoo

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    YAWN! Are we still having the same tiresome debates? Due to Bron’s bad finals and Dirk’s inability to play defense and rebound at a high rate means there’s no clear cut best player at this very moment.

  • Jay Reyes

    Dirk was the best player during the Finals of this season. may not be the best player on the planet… but definitely deserving of the Finals MVP award.

  • Dagger

    Did someone say Wade’s defence was better than Lebron’s? The same Wade who was being hidden against Marion in the Finals? The same Wade who deferred to Bron when it came to guarding Pierce, or Rose? Really?

  • Jay Reyes

    Rick Carlisle = Jim Carrey

  • rikson

    My god, can we give dirk some love..?! I mean, what is the guy supposed to do… crazy! And please stop the LBJ best player talk… Yeah he gets his stats, and Ill admit he is a GREAT passer but the rest comes mainly from his frame and athletic ability. I mean look at his drives, he is not faking his defender hes is basically driving through him! The missin skillset is what makes it hard for him to score once the defense tightens up in the finals. That said, once the king puts in more effort during the postseason he could easily be the best!

  • rikson

    Best player: CP3

  • http://nba.com EJ

    Shut up everybody, it’s Scalabrine.

  • bike

    Dirk might be the best but Kwame Brown has the most upside.

  • Jared

    this is a sad state for the american b-ball player. the best player in the league is a white guy from germany named Dirk Nowitzki.
    his defense is pretty freakin good considering he doesnt play the pf position much like tim duncan. duncan cant do all the things dirk does anyhow, so dirk is both the best player in the league, and the best “power forward” just because hes listed as such.

  • Jared

    This is a sad state for the american b-ball player. the best player in the league is a white guy from germany named Dirk Nowitzki.
    his defense is pretty freakin good considering he doesnt play the pf position much like tim duncan. duncan cant do all the things dirk does anyhow, so dirk is both the best player in the league, and the best “power forward” just because hes listed as such.

    in 06 dirk had no help and got to the finals which he surprisingly almost won. the refs helped wade out with that one.

    lets compare dirk and kobe. in 06. they both had the same amount of help, which was barely any, but kobe barely made the playoffs, and lost to steve nash in the first round, and the next year with the same team didnt make the playoffs? during those two years (06 and 07) dirk, with the SAME amount of help, lost in the finals and shouldve won, and the next year led dallas to the 1 seed but played a team (golden state) that had his former coach on the sideline. wouldnt that help golden state out there??? duhhhhh! dirk > kobe
    both very good, but dirk is better

  • angel

    listen guys as far as i’m concerned, the best basketball player in the world means the best right now, so kobe is not in the debate, he has done nothing that proves that he is still the best, career wise he is the best but right now, no. people are talking about the fact that dirk is an excellent offensive player but a bad defensive player, but at the end of the day, dirk vs lebron who won the battle? lebron throughout his career has proven to be a freak stats wise, but in the playoffs dirk has outmatched him stats wise, you can’t just say that lebron is a better player cause he is better defender, as the matter of fact where was lebron’s incredible defense in the finals? he is not even that good of a defender he couldn’t even guard jason terry. at the end of this season dirk nowitzki proves that he is simply the best basketball player in the world bar none and at my eyes he is the most uncoverable player right now and of all time.

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