Dirk Nowitzki's Honest Admission About Beating LeBron James In NBA Finals

Dirk Nowitzki's place in NBA history was cemented after the 2010-11 season. He led the Dallas Mavericks in a legendary run that culminated in them beating the newly-formed Miami Heat super team. Nowitzki, the lone All-Star in Dallas at the time, defeated LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh for his only ring.

Over a decade after that legendary win, Nowitzki made his thoughts about that win quite clear. The Mavericks legend admitted that they got a little lucky in their Finals meeting with the Heat, catching them in an awkward time.

“It was tough," Nowitzki said on Thanasis Antetokounmpo's podcast. "I always say we got a little lucky. We saw them in year one, where they'd just gotten together, & I think they were not quite sure yet."

The Mavericks faced the newly-formed Heat super team in the Finals. Dallas were heavy underdogs in the series, and for good reason. LeBron, Wade, and Bosh were at their primes at the time. Many expected them to fold easily to the so-called Heatles.

However, Nowitzki refused to let the Mavericks lose. In one of the greatest Finals performances of all-time, the former Mavs first-round pick averaged 26 points and 9.7 rebounds to lead them to their first championship in franchise history.

Nowitzki wasn't alone in his quest: key contributions from role players like Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, and Jason Kidd gave Dallas a boost at different points. Still, Nowitzki's 2011 Finals run is considered one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history.

As for the Heat, they'd eventually find their groove after an embarrassing Finals debut for their Big 3. They would return to the Finals three more times, winning two rings against the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.