I love Dirk Nowitzki. He's one of my five favorite players of all time. Besides the obvious reason, his incredible basketball prowess, Nowitzki grew each and every year to reach his full potential.
I used to be hard on him. Nothing he did was good enough for me. Dirk had 30? Should've had 45. Dirk scored 45? So? They lost cause he went 1-6 in the 4th quarter. Dirk beat Kobe? Do it in the playoffs. Mavs can't get to the Finals? His fault.
I was hard on him because I recognized his potential. I knew he was 7-foot with an uncanny touch from the perimeter.