German star Dirk Nowitzki became only the sixth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points as the Dallas Mavericks faced the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nowitzki, who needed just 20 points to reach the milestone heading into the game, reached the mark in the second quarter with a fadeaway jump shot.
The 38-year-old now joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain as the only men to make 30,000 points in the NBA.
Nowitzki confirmed last week he plans to see out the full term of his two-year contract with the Mavericks, which will take his remarkable career into a 20th season next year.
Nowitzki played in only six of the Mavs’ opening 29 games this season after an Achilles problem. He is averaging 13.6 and 6.4 rebounds over 34 games.
If he returns for a 20th season, Nowitzki would match the record set by Los Angeles Lakers star Bryant, who played 20 seasons with one franchise before retiring last year.
“Twenty is a great number,” Nowitzki said last week in an interview.
“I think 20 seasons also with one team, like I’m trying to do it — I think only Kobe has done it — that’s another great accomplishment. So I kind of want to make the 20 fold. Plus that summer I’m turning 40. I think that’s also a good number to be in the league … from 20 to 40.
“That’s what I’m looking at. Hopefully I’ll finish this season out strong, and then have a decent year, hopefully not as (many) injuries next year.”
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