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OKC Thunder: Do not wait until Russell Westbrooks legacy night to appreciate him

By Rylan Stiles

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: Dirk Nowitzki #41 and Russell Westbrook #0 of Team Giannis warm up before the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: Dirk Nowitzki #41 and Russell Westbrook #0 of Team Giannis warm up before the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
Dirk Nowitzki, OKC Thunder (Photos by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Despite Dirk playing all 21 years in Dallas, Russell Westbrook, barring that he does not leave on bad terms like a certain other star (which no one thinks he will), will mean more to Oklahoma City than what Dirk means to Dallas.

Russell Westbrook was the first. Or at worst 1b. Dirk had to compete with Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famers who already had the loyalties of fans and popularity and had already delivered five Super Bowl championships.

Even during Dirk’s peak, the Dallas Stars stole headlines with Mike Modano and Marty Turco leading a dominate Stars era that featured a Stanley Cup championship in 1999, and National relevance throughout the early-mid 2000s. the Texas Rangers went to back-to-back World Series and made a few more playoff runs during Dirk’s peak. As the Aforementioned Dallas Cowboys are always the toast of the town even while being mediocre throughout Dirk’s career.

For the majority of Dirk’s early career, he was fighting to get over the hump, he finally did in 2006, as Russell Westbrook did in 2012, getting to the NBA Finals but eventually falling to Dwyane Wade in 2006 as did Westbrook in 2012.

After getting to the NBA Finals, and losing, and looking as if they had such a bright future it took Dirk until 2011 to reach the Finals again, topping the Miami Heat’s big three in their first year of coming together.

Westbrook has not reached the Finals since 2012, but like Dirk has dealt with a ton of adversity since losing to the Heat in the 2012 Finals.

First round losses, shuffling teammates, and the media questioning if each could lead a team.

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