With yet another silky three-pointer, Dirk Nowitzki leap-frogged Jerry West on the League’s All-Time scoring list. Up next for Dirk, is Reggie Miller. Per NBA.com: “He was obviously a little before my time,’ Nowitzki said of West. ‘But I love the history of the game, I watched plenty of games, watched him shoot. He’s really the first guy that had really a pure jump shot like that. He’s the man, he’s clutch. He’s the logo.’ Nowitzki, in his 16th season, now has 25,197 career points. With West’s 25,192 points behind him, Miller’s 25,279 points is reachable likely within the next three to five games. Soon, only 14 players will have scored more points than the big German, and only a handful are safe from Nowitzki’s final charge over the next few seasons. ‘It’s another great milestone, but for now, got to keep working and that’s really about it,’ said a rather subdued Nowitzki, whose re-tooled Mavs improved to 5-3. ‘Like I always say, all these milestones are great once my career is over.’ Nowitzki’s jumper, whether a trailing, transition 3 from straightaway or a one-legged leaner from the elbow, is as pure as anyone’s who ever played the game, and no 7-footer comes close. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle did point out one significant difference between the 25,000-plus points West racked up in just 932 games compared to Nowitzki’s total through 1,116 career games. ‘Jerry West never shot a 3,’ Carlisle said. ‘If there had been a 3-point line back then, this milestone would have come later — he would need more points. It’s a monumental achievement to pass a player like that. He’s going to pass more big names in the weeks and months to come.'”
