The most important player on each and every NBA team this season

By Ti Windisch | Aug 28, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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PORTLAND, OR – DECEMBER 7: Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) rests during the Dallas Mavericks 108-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on December 7, 2013 in Portland, Oregon. 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. (Photo by Chris Elise/Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks — Dirk Nowitzki

Luka Doncic is going to determine the Dallas Mavericks’ fate for the next decade or so. Just as the Hawks took a big risk in passing on Doncic to select Trae Young did the Mavs take a risk of their own in trading up to secure the Slovenian guard.

All of that is fine and good, but there’s no way any member of the Dallas Mavericks can be more important than Dirk Nowitzki as long as he’s on the roster. Dirk built this iteration of the Mavs up, and his insane run in the 2011 NBA Playoffs brought Dallas the franchise’s only championship. He is absolutely the top dog here.

In what will be a building year for the Mavs, who are still looking at a massively uphill battle to even fight for a playoff spot in the cutthroat Western Conference, Dirk will be more important than Doncic. Nowitzki will be making sure Doncic is ready to take over for him once he finally does hang up his huge shoes for good.

Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, and Harrison Barnes are all important Mavericks as well, but none of them can possibly mean as much to the franchise as Dirk. No player will, unless one can lead Dallas back to the promised land. Even then, it will be hard to imagine a Maverick more important than Dirk is to this franchise.

Doncic will have his chance to enjoy the limelight in Dallas, but he’s got to understand that this is still Dirk’s team for the moment. If all goes well, there should be a clean handoff from one European star to the next.

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