DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki’s place in the pantheon of Dallas-Fort Worth athletes, and in the hearts and minds of fans, could not be more secure.
He’s the sixth-leading scorer in NBA history. He led the Mavericks to their only championship. He willed the franchise for 21 seasons, the most by an NBA player who played for only one team.
On Christmas morning, though, Nowitzki’s basketball career and his humanity as a beloved Dallasite will be celebrated in the form of art. His legacy will be cast in a permanence that’s hard to fathom.