In a recent appearance on ‘All the Smoke’ podcast, Mavericks big man Dirk Nowitzki explained the secrets to one of the league’s most iconic moves. In a chat with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Dirk explained where the move came from and why he used it so frequently in the latter stages of his career.
“I think I started shooting that later. In your twenties, you have the power if somebody’s crowding you to try and rip through and get to the basket, get fouled a lot. As I’d gotten older, I lost a step and I didn’t want to do all the grinding so I looked for a shot that I can do without a lot of effort. I’m tall, it was just one or two bumps and lean back and you know, nobody can get to the shot. So that’s really how I started shooting it a little bit at the beginning. I had the support of the coaches, of course, because not many people wanted to shoot a one-leg fadeaway.”
Dirk’s one leg fadeaway will go down as one of the toughest moves ever to guard.
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Dirk goes on to explain how he used the move as a way to prolong his career. As defenses were starting to turn the pressure up, he incorporated the go-to move as a way to produce instant offense and it’s safe to say that it worked considering he was able to enjoy a career that spanned over 21 seasons.
One Of The Most Iconic Moves In NBA History
When you think about the most unstoppable signature moves in basketball history, some contenders could include Kareem’s skyhook, Hakeem Olajuwon’s “dream shake,” and Tim Duncan’s classic bank shot. Of course, Dirk’s one-leg fadeaway is right up there with the best of them. At 7’0″ and 245 pounds, Nowitzki’s jumper was out of reach for most defenders and it’s why he was often able to score so effortlessly even when draped by defenders.
Interestingly, Dirk didn’t actually start using the move until after his MVP season and slowly tweaked the shot until he had mastered it completely. Still, the time he had it in his bag was enough to get worldwide fame for its elegance, consistency, and sheer effectiveness on the court. And while many players have tried to replicate the move, nobody has had as much success with it as no. 41 and it’s still remembered in history for being one of the most impressive signature moves of all-time.
Dirk Is A Legend
While he often gets overlooked by younger basketball fans, Dirk Nowitzki’s career cannot be undervalued. Over 21 seasons in the NBA, he averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game on 47.1% shooting. He retired in 2019 as a 1x MVP, 14x All-Star, and 12x All-NBA player. His crowning achievement came in 2011 when he led the Dallas Mavericks to an upset win over the Miami Heat big-three. After that shocking upset, Dirk forever marked his place in the history books and respect for his career is evident across the association.
Today, Nowitzki doesn’t do much in the public eye but his continued support of the NBA and the Mavericks organization is nice to see given his impact on the game at the international level. As one of the greatest European players the league has ever seen, Nowitzki is truly a legend of the game and his iconic one-leg fadeaway will be remembered for generations to come.
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