• The Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 title win is one of the most celebrated championship runs in modern history
• Dirk Nowitzki finally broke through the glass ceiling and led Dallas to upset the Miami Heat
• After the win, Nowitzki declared MVPs mean nothing while championships mean everything
Since the Warriors fell apart in 2019, we haven’t had a dynasty in the NBA. But the 2000s and 2010s were full of teams that were dynasties or had the talent to become one. The Spurs, Lakers, Heat, and Warriors are some examples. The Mavericks were not one of them.
Despite their unheralded nature, they got their taste of glory and lifted the NBA Championship led by Dirk Nowitzki in 2011. Dirk was emotional after the title win, dropping an incredible quote in the locker room tunnel.
“MVP means nothing, championship means everything. I worked so hard for 13 years, for the city of Dallas, for the organizations. It’s been an amazing ride and this definitely tops it off.”
"MVP means nothing… Championship means everything."
Dirk's mentality 💯
Watch the #23HoopClass enshrinement, Saturday, August 12 at 8pm/et on NBA TV. pic.twitter.com/T69FZr68wO
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The 2011 Playoffs set Nowitzki’s legacy as the greatest European player in league history in stone. Modern players are making a run at that title, but Nowitzki earned his place in history with that playoff run.
He averaged 27.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game through the playoffs and was ultimately crowned Finals MVP after he led the Mavs to take down the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh-led Miami Heat.
How Dirk Nowitzki’s MVP Season Turned Into A Nightmare
The reason Nowitzki said MVPs don’t mean anything is because of the brutal ending his only MVP-winning season had. Dirk led the Mavericks to an incredible 67-win record in the 2006-07 regular season and was awarded the 2007 MVP award.
The Mavs were coming off making the 2006 Finals and losing in extremely controversial fashion to the Miami Heat. Nowitzki was laser-focused on becoming a champion as the Mavericks faced the eight-seed Golden State Warriors, led by former Mavs’ coach Don Nelson, in the first round. The Warriors would shockingly beat a healthy Mavericks squad and hand Nowitzki the most embarrassing loss of his career.
The infamous ‘We Believe’ Warriors held Nowitzki to 19.7 points per game on 38.3% shooting in the series. Due to the league revealing the regular-season MVP results after the first round, an eliminated Nowitzki had to face the media as the ‘best player in the NBA’ after being humiliated in the first round.
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