Hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the Mavericks won the 2011 NBA championship.
And, in the words of some of the current Mavericks, the legend of that team – and that dude, Dirk Nowitzki – continue to grow.
Many of the 2021 Mavericks weren’t even in college in 2011. Some weren’t even in high school
One, Luka Dončić, was 12 years old and hadn’t even left home yet. That would happen a year later when he turned professional.
He has no recollection of Dirk and the 2011 Mavericks.
“No, I don’t remember anything,” Dončić said, “because I was too young to watch at that age.”
In his defense, the NBA finals games were in the middle of the night, Slovenian time.
But for three other Mavericks, they have vivid remembrances of 2011. And while this year’s team is set to make its own memories in the playoffs, perhaps giving a new generation of kids something to learn from and cherish for a lifetime, they also can look back fondly (sort of) on the Mavericks’ championship.
One player in particular who lived through the title run was Tim Hardaway Jr., who had a front-and-center seat to watch his beloved Miami Heat – the team for whom his father played and whose jersey hangs in the rafters of the Heat’s home arena – get their hearts crushed by Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion and the rest of the championship gang from Dallas.
Hardaway’s heart didn’t come out unscathed, either.
He was coming back to Miami from his freshman season at Michigan. His dad, Tim Hardaway Sr., was working for the Heat at the time, so his son got to go to all the home games in the finals.
He recalls very well how Nowitzki handled himself in those finals.
“Dirk was out there doing his thing and I remember the Heat players making fun of him a little here and there,” Hardaway said. “And him realizing it and not really showing emotion. It’s like a ha-ha type moment, where it’s like, I hear you but I’m not going to let that affect the way I go out there and hoop.”
Hardaway was particularly impressed with how Nowitzki took a team without another all-star that season to the promised land against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who would win thee of the next four championships, but were denied by Dirk in their first season together.
“It was great just to be able to watch it,” Hardaway said. “He had Matrix and those guys who were previous all-stars. But yeah, him doing it against the Big Three, (Dallas was) probably one of the only teams without a big three or multiple MVP caliber players to be able to beat them (the Heat) on their turf at their place and come out as champions.
“It was a great experience to watch, even though I was a Heat fan at that time.”
Josh Richardson, who one day would be drafted by the Heat, remembers the 2011 Mavericks’ title run for a different reason.
The veteran swingman was growing up in Oklahoma City in 2011. So who did the Mavericks beat in the Western Conference finals? Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I’m from Oklahoma City,” Richardson said with a hint of defiance in his tone. “So I always knew what the Mavericks were doing. I think that was the year that Dirk actually destroyed the Thunder in the playoffs.
“And I was very NOT happy about it because I was a Thunder fan.”
That said, he had the utmost respect for Nowitzki, even then when Richardson was only 17 years old.
“I do remember the way he was playing, the way Jet was playing. (J.J.) Barea. All those guys were having great playoffs,” Richardson said. “I think that was the first year the Heat came together, LeBron and the Heat, that’s trouble. I just remember the way the ball was moving for the Mavericks. I remember Jet running down the court, you know what I’m saying. But my biggest takeaway was Dirk and what he did to the Thunder. That’s crazy how long it’s been now.”
Another Maverick who was growing up during Dallas’ title time was Jalen Brunson. The third-year guard was going into his freshman year at Stevenson High School in suburban Chicago.
Even from that distant vantage point, he knew he was seeing something that struck a chord with him.
“I promise you,(and this is not) out of proportion, I watched Dirk a lot,” I loved the way he played and the way he got himself open for shots, his footwork and stuff like that. Even though I’m about 10 inches shorter, I still find ways to implement it in my game.”
That’s also when Brunson gained an appreciation for chemistry on the basketball court.
“You watch him (Nowitzki), watch that team and how well put-together they were, that’s admirable,” Brunson said. “They had the leadership, guys held each other accountable. From afar, that was pretty fun to watch.”
At the time when all this was happening, Nowitzki had no concerns about who was watching or maybe gaining inspiration from the feats of the Mavericks and the incredible will that Nowitzki showed to lead them to the title.
In retrospect, though, he can appreciate what was happening. And it means a lot to him now.
“It’s of course extremely humbling to know that some of the younger generation was watching and maybe even inspired by what we did,” Nowitzki said. “When I grew up, I was watching the NBA every year and I got inspired by so many athletes that were following their dream. And my dream was to make it once in the NBA or win the title. So I got inspired.
“Now, if I am in the position where other young athletes now got inspired by me or looked up to me or I somehow paved a way for them, then of course, it’s an honor and I’m super-humble.”
The experiences of Brunson, Hardaway and Richardson are further proof of the impact that sporting moments can have from generation to generation.
And 10 years later, the current Mavericks hope to create some new memories for kids who might be running around the NBA in a decade or so.
Twitter: @ESefko
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