NBA: 5 players that should be on the new NBA logo

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(L) and Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan(R) talk during a free-throw attempt during the fourth quarter 17 December at the United Center in Chicago. Bryant, who is 19 and bypassed college basketball to play in the NBA, scored a team-high 33 points off the bench, and Jordan scored a team-high 36 points. The Bulls defeated the Lakers 104-83. AFP PHOTO VINCENT LAFORET (Photo by VINCENT LAFORET / AFP) (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP/Getty Images) /

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NBA logo candidate No. 4: Dirk Nowitzki

Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac, Arvydas Sabonis and Drazen Petrovic all played a major role in the NBA’s effect in Europe. Heck, even Micahel Jordan helped to commercialize it. But the truth is, no European has had a greater impact on NBA basketball than Dirk Nowitzki.

Next to Kareem, the German superstar holds a spot amongst those having the most unstoppable moves in NBA history. His signature fadeaway is now a commemorative part on the hardwood floor of the Dallas Mavericks.

Dirk is the one that brought the whole “stretch-four” thing into action. His immense shooting abilities forced opposing power forwards and centers to the perimeter, ultimately leading to them working on their three-pointers of their own.

Nowitzki was never actually a good defender or a reliable rebounder. What he could do was score the ball at a rate that very few could in the ’00s. This gift was enough to lead the Dallas Mavericks to two NBA Finals, including one win in 2011, their only one in franchise history.

He was a guard trapped inside a big man’s body with the skills to show it. Given how many happy memories his spot on the Dallas court brings to us, adding him to the potential new NBA logo sounds and is a great idea.