Tuesday should have been the highlight of Dirk Nowitzki’s basketball life. Maybe years from now it will be; maybe he’ll lead his team to multiple championships, be regarded as a clutch performer and silence any critics left over. Maybe. But for now, after becoming the first European awarded the MVP, it has been nothing short of painful and awkward for Nowitzki. His speech was as hard to watch as a sweaty, nervous, drunk, best-man without anything prepared who curses like a Duke lacrosse player.

This is the first time the award will be given at a press conference and not at center court during halftime of a playoff game. Why? Because no MVP has been bounced this quickly before.

What can he say? What can anyone ask him? I’m trying to think of anything clever or interesting to happen, but we knew what was going to come out of Dirk’s mouth:

1. It’s honor to get this award from my peers.

2. It’s meaningless without playoff success.

And we knew what the reporters will ask.

1. What happened against Golden State?

2. Where do you go from here?

To backup Dirk, yes this award is an honor. Nowitzki has more MVPs than Kobe Bryant, Patrick Ewing, Dwayne Wade, Kevin McHale, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, John Stockton and Isiah Thomas combined. And yes, he deserved it.

It’s funny, all across the country people are ripping BOTH Nowitzki and the Mavericks. I keep hearing how the Mavericks really weren’t that great and fell into the sixth best record of all time, and yet how overrated Nowitzki was, how he didn’t lead nor help improve his teammates. What? How are both items true? If the Mavericks’ record truly was an apparition, surely Nowitzki deserves much of the credit.

I think Nowitzki’s stink-fest against Golden State has tainted everyone’s opinion of his game. I do agree, Dallas had an inflated record, but the biggest reason is because of Dirk’s superior play.

He’s an excellent scorer, leader and rebounder. He’s the best passer on his team, and a better defender then people give him credit for. He also hits his foul shots and is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. He COULD average more points per game, yet he shares the ball with his teammates to boost their confidence.