The Beckett Blog

It occurred to me during a recent “Box Busters” episode – as I stared longingly into the vibrant fibers of the sweetest Technicolor patch card I’d ever seen – that I’ve wasted almost 12 years not collecting Dirk Nowitzki.

I’m a darn fool.

How else to explain collectibly ignoring one of the most athletic big men in NBA history? He’s been plying his extraordinary wares right here in my backyard since the Dallas Mavericks landed the little-known German with high upside in 1998; yet it took a mesmerizing, majestic piece of memorabilia from 2009-10 Exquisite Collection for my new mission to materialize.

I must start collecting Dirk.

Something about that Extra Exquisite card compelled to me delve deeper into the 7-footer’s collectible body of work. Once there, I was surprised to discover that I’m not the only disinterested dweeb. In fact, I’m far from it. Judging by the too-good-to-be-true values of his best stuff, Nowitzki represents one of the greatest basketball bargains going. An uber bargain, if you will.

He’s one of those players – like, say, Peyton Manning or Tim Duncan – who’s a victim of his own perpetual greatness. He’s been so good for so long that we take his everyday excellence for granted.

But in reality, the sweet-shooting Nowitzki – the 2006-07 NBA MVP – is a bona fide superstar even if his card values fly directly into the face of that notion.

He’s an eight-time All-Star and a career 22-point scorer who’s averaged more than 25 points per game in a season five times. He’s a career 44.1 percent shooter who’s been named First Team All-NBA four times. Even more impressive are Nowitzki’s numbers in the postseason, which include 25.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

And the collectible reasons to dig Dirk are as preponderant as his career point total (19,244 and counting): He signs about two certified autograph cards a year on average, his best Rookie Cards (of which he has just 20) top out at between $40 and $60 and his average memorabilia card runs about $23.

It’s likely that about the only thing Nowitzki can do now to inject upward mobility into his cards is win an NBA title (the Mavericks’ narrow miss against Miami in the 2006 NBA Finals likely still keeps his card values down). In the meantime, I can start stockpiling his best stuff at their current bargain-basement prices.

Whether or not Nowitzki ever clutches the Larry O’Brien Trophy, I’ll still have a sweet collection of cards honoring one of the greatest players of all time – even if it did take me almost 12 years to acquire.

– Tracy Hackler

How Dirk’s vital card stats compare to those of his more collectible colleagues: