Lebron is NO MJ. Is Dirk though?

Expecting players to actually live up to some hype are few and far between. And expecting players to live up to Michael Jordan hype, or even be in the same area code, are an even rarer sight. 

And no, not Lebron James. It’s Dirk Nowitzki.

In Game 1 of the NBA Finals Nowitzki tore a tendon on his left middle finger in a close loss. Luckily for the Dallas faithful, it was on his non-shooting hand. 

The next game Nowitzki hit the game-winning shot in with 3.6 seconds left remaining to secure a big victory for the Dallas Mavericks on the road. Not only did he do this, but he also scored the last nine points of the game for his team, the game-winner was going left, using his left hand to kiss it softly off the glass. 

Very Jordan-esque.

Game 4 stirred up the constant ‘Flu Game’ stories of Jordan during the 1997 NBA Finals. Nowitzki had a sinus infection and a fever. His temperature reached over 100 degrees, and he had coughing fits throughout the game. 

Both being ultra-competitors, even with illness weighing on them heavily, found a way to will their respective team to victory. Jordan scored 38, Nowitzki 21, but it was the mental fortitude and pushing themselves beyond their physical limits to carry their team.

Sunday Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of his Mav teammates try to close out their first ever title run. And you probably won’t see the acrobatic plays that made His Airness famous from Nowitzki, but that’s where the comparisons can begin. As you watch the Game 6 the more #41 might look like #23.