Hoops Habit
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The NBA’s 10 Most Criminally Underrated Stars

By Gerald Bourguet

January 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the basketball against Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Heat 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the basketball against Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Heat 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 12, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrates hitting a three point shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Cavaliers defeat the Mavericks 110-107 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Dirk Nowitzki

2015-16 Statistics: 17.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, .458/.399/.894 shooting, 20.6 PER

The Dallas Mavericks aren’t exactly lighting up the win-loss column with a 22-17 record, but considering the current state of the West, what Rick Carlisle‘s squad is doing has been extraordinary to watch. After all, this is a team that had every incentive (and the right personnel) to tank since they give up this year’s first round draft pick if it falls outside the top-seven.

But thanks to Carlisle’s wizardry and Dirk Nowitzki‘s annual trip to the Fountain of Youth, the Mavs have the fifth best record in the conference with a roster made up mostly of spare parts. That alone makes Dirk Diggler deserving of yet another trip to the All-Star Game.

I know, I know: it’s hard to consider Dirk Nowitzki underrated in any sense. He’s the NBA’s sixth all-time leading scorer, he’s won an MVP Award and an NBA title, and he’s earned 12 All-NBA and 13 All-Star selections in his career. But at age 37, most people expected the quality of Dirk’s game to fall off a cliff. Instead, he’s aged more like fine wine than Kobe Bryant, the man who boasts the nickname “Vino.”

From big crunch-time baskets to spreading the floor with his three-point shot to capitalizing on smaller defenders in post-up situations from anywhere on the floor, Nowitzki is somehow proving the combination of Dirk, Carlisle and spare parts is still good enough to be a playoff team.

Nowitzki will obviously go down as one of the greatest players of all time, and there’s no doubt he’s already the greatest player in the history of the Mavericks franchise. But in 2015-16, we shouldn’t forget to respect our elders since Dirk has managed to stave off Father Time for yet another year.

Next: No. 4