Dirk Nowitzki: 40-Point Performance Proves Mavericks' Star Is Still Elite

If you thought Dirk Nowitzki was washed up, take your foot and place it snugly inside your mouth.

Nowitzki went straight bonkers Saturday night, dropping a season-high 40 points on the Utah Jazz. He scored in every conceivable way, emphatically proving that he's still one of the most lethal scorers in the NBA.

The big German was uber-efficient, burying 14 of his 21 field goal attempts. He knocked down three of his eight shots from behind the arc and nine of 10 free throws. The performance wasn't quite as insane as his 48 points on 15 shots in last year's playoffs, but it was pretty close.

He was unstoppable from the mid-range, draining 10 shots in the 10- to 18-foot range. In the third quarter, he banked in a ridiculous off-balance three-pointer with a hand in his face. The next trip down the court, he splashed another three-ball.

It was the quintessential Nowitzki performance and should effectively shut up anyone who thought his game was on the decline.

After winning the NBA Finals MVP in June, Nowitzki suffered an understandable hangover at the beginning of this season. He wasn't in game shape when the lockout ended, and the truncated season was taking a toll on his aging body.

However, if you've been watching the same Nowitzki I have for the past 13 years, you shouldn't be the least bit surprised that he's bounced back. It was only a matter of time before he started murdering defenses again, and that time has officially come.

Like last season, the Mavericks are flying completely under the radar out west. But thanks to their experience, defense and the presence of Dirk, they're as dangerous as any team in the conference.

Although Nowitzki is 33 years old, he's still as dominant as ever. The current statistics might not show it, but as he proved on Saturday, he's one of the five best scorers in the league, hands down.

You can expect plenty of more outbursts like this from Nowitzki in the second half of the season.