Dirk Nowitzki is accurately regarded as the greatest shooting 7-footer in the history of the NBA. Connecting on 1982 3-point makes across 21 regular seasons, the 14-time All-Star stretched the floor before the philosophy became the foundation of modern-day offence.
Despite being an efficient 38% career shooter from long range, Nowitzki averaged what would now be considered a criminally low 3.4 attempts from beyond the arc per game. Currently, there are 167 players averaging more attempts from 3-point territory per game in the 2022-23 regular season - regardless of whether they can knock them down with any type of consistency.
"I saw it coming once Steph (Curry) started shooting the ball like that, shooting it from halfcourt and making them," Nowitzki told ESPN with a smile.
"A couple of years ago, I was still in the league, James Harden was in Houston and I think they shot one midrange shot, the rest were threes and layups. That's where the statistics were going, that's where the games were going.
"As long as the guys shoot a decent percentage from three, it's just way better than a two, that's just the way the stats work. I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of it, I love my midrange, that's where I did a lot of my work. I do miss it at times but of course I understand how the game changes and this is part of it."
Across the NBA in Nowitzki's rookie season in 1998-99 with Dallas, teams averaged 13.2 3-point attempts per game. This season, that number has ballooned 34.3. It's worth mentioning that despite the mammoth rise in volume, the accuracy has also improved from 33.9% to 35.8%.
Although the 3-point binge showing no signs of slowing down, Nowitzki baulks at the idea of implementing new rules or regulations to combat the game morphing into a long-range shooting exhibition. The idea of a 4-point line has been raised over recent years, while Jeff Van Gundy recently floated the possibility of removing the corner three on the January 8 episode of the Ryen Russilo podcast.
"It evolves constantly, the rules have changed. Scoring now, since the court is so open, there are basically five guys out there who can shoot. Back in the nineties, the power forward and centre were around the paint, it was always clogged, there was nowhere to go. Now you have all these guys spotting around, the drives are there, they all have the stepback. Guys skill level is out of this world," Nowitzki said.
"I wouldn't add a 4-point line, guys will just dribble up and start hoisting. That's just not what I believe in. The corner three is the easiest three of course, but that's why defences should also be catered to taking that away. A lot do, if you give up a three, give up the high three. I think the game is in a good place and we'll see what comes next."
Nowitzki could soon be joined at the Mavericks MVP table by Luka Doncic, with the 23-year-old Slovenian piecing together a monster season. Doncic is averaging 33.8 points. 9.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists, in a high usage, volume scoring role that has helped the Mavericks stay afloat in the competitive Western Conference.
Nowitzki has formed a close relationship with Doncic, marvelling at his ability to orchestrate the offence on a nightly basis, carrying the scoring and facilitating load under head coach, Jason Kidd - who was also a championship teammate of Nowitzki.
"There's not a lot of pass first guards anymore, it feels like it's a little bit old school," he responds when asked about the differences between Doncic and Kidd.
"Now days you have to score, score, score and that sets up the passing. With (former Dallas teammates) J-Kidd and Steve (Nash), you almost had to force these guys to shoot. Sometimes they were overpassing or passing up good shots where you had to tell them you need them to shoot and keep the defence honest."
A beneficiary of the all-round wizardry of Doncic has been Australian Josh Green, who is in the midst of a career-best season in Dallas, averaging 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game on a vastly improved 44% from long range.
"I think it helps him (playing alongside Doncic), he's a great defender already, he's athletic, he plays super, super hard. Now he added the 3-point and more to his game.
"That was one thing he needed to get better at, he's put in a lot of work so we're happy for him. Now he's a really good player for us, I'm looking forward to him showing what he's got and being a big-time player for us."
One mark that will be difficult to match will be Nowitzki's longevity, with the 2007 league MVP amassing 1522 regular season appearances, good for fourth on the all-time list. In 15 of his 19 campaigns (the other two seasons were lockout shortened), Nowitzki played in at least 75 of the 82-game schedule.
In 2021-22, 56 players appeared in at least 75 regular season games. In 1999-200, 144 players reached that mark.
While load management has become a talking point in recent times, Nowitzki says he is still in remarkably good shape given the NBA miles on his seven-foot frame.
"Times are different. I don't want to be the guy saying, 'back in the day everything was better'," Nowitzki says. "I prided myself on trying to be there every night, whether I was hurt, whether I was sick, I wanted to be there for my teammates. For the franchise, for the fans who buy the tickets and maybe wanted to come see me play.
"I started some resting in my thirties and deeper thirties with a bit of load management. In my twenties I wanted to play every game I could."