Keeping a superstar player on the payroll comes with a price: the fans want to get their moneys’ worth. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban heaved a huge sigh of relief earlier this spring when his big-time investment paid off big-time.

Earlier this year on the evening of March 08, 2008, Dirk became the Mavericks’ all-time scoring leader (16,644 points scored since joining the Dallas team), passing ex-Mav Rolando Blackman and receiving a long and fan-based leg-cramping standing ovation by his multitude of admirers.

Until that record-breaking game Dirk already had a soft spot in Maverick fans’ hearts. After all, he’s the player that comes in night after night and at least puts forth his best effort. He hardly ever gets injured, rarely complains in public, and is often seen committing his time to disadvantaged kids and working with the Dallas community. Dirk’s seen close friends (Steve Nash and Michael Finley) come and go, but he’s never let any external drama alter his play. Because of his devotion to the game of basketball, Nowitzki has yet another place in the history books alongside becoming the first European player to win the MVP.

Leading his team to a victory over the New Jersey Nets (111-91) was icing on the cake for the fans that came to see Dirk make news. He is, after all, the team leader, their star. Dirk has earned one MVP award and appeared in seven All-Star games. He's averaged twenty-two points and eight rebounds per game over his career and twenty-five points and eleven rebounds per game in the playoffs, a place that he's led the Mavs to since the 2000-01 season. He’s the only Dallas player to lead the Mavs to their only Finals appearance.

He is the most high profile Maverick of all time, and many consider Dirk Nowitzki to be the greatest individual player in Dallas Mavericks’ history.