Carmelo Anthony: Five Legends Who Won First Title After 30

Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to one of the greatest and most improbable championship runs in NBA history. Nowitzki was borderline flawless as Dallas defeated both the defending NBA champions and the Big Three Miami Heat.

Here’s the information that you need to know as a fan of Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks: Nowitzki turned 33 years of age just seven days after clinching his first title.

Nowitzki finished the 2011 NBA Playoffs with averages of 27.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He averaged 32.2 points on 55.7 percent shooting during the Western Conference Finals and 25.3 points on 57.4 percent shooting against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Nowitzki averaged 26.0 points and 9.7 rebounds during the NBA Finals as he led Dallas to the first championship in franchise history.

The magic of that team is that the Mavericks didn’t have an established star in their prime beyond Nowitzki. Instead, they had crafty veterans, defensive workhorses, and sharpshooters who weren’t afraid of taking the big shot.

As Nowitzki thoroughly displayed during the 2011 NBA Playoffs, an all-time scorer can find success in the postseason if a couple of fortuitous bounces go in their teammates’ favor.

Whether or not you believe Anthony can lead the Knicks to an NBA championship, a precedent exists.

must read: Who is the greatest player in New York Knicks history?

Perhaps it’s not so farfetched to believe the three-time Olympic gold medalist and 2003 NCAA champion has another title run up his sleeve.