Check out the NBA's top 10 scorers and rebounders, and only one name is found on both lists: Germany's Dirk Nowitzki.
Scan the winners of the Western Conference's player of the month award, and he's the only person honored twice. Then look at the standings and see that his Dallas Mavericks have racked up another 50-win season and home court advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Now factor in some of the other status symbols that have come Nowitzki's way lately -- getting Punk'd by MTV, playing advice columnist on NBA.com, and doing such a good job on humorous league TV commercials that he'll soon be appearing in his third one.
It all adds up to one conclusion: At 26, and in his seventh season since arriving from Germany with a new-wave haircut and unlimited potential, Nowitzki is taking the final step from star to superstar, and inching closer to the stratosphere of the league's best power forwards, two-time MVP Tim Duncan and last year's MVP, Kevin Garnett.
But to truly appreciate Nowitzki's rise, you must understand the circumstances. What's turned out to be his best season could have been his worst, considering he's without two of the most instrumental figures in his development, point guard and close friend Steve Nash, and Don Nelson, who until last month was Nowitzki's only NBA coach.
"He just keeps working to get better," Nash said. "He's more confident, more experienced and has a better feel for the game. Maybe some of it is because the team changed and he had to take on more responsibility, but I think overall it's just a natural progression."
Nash and Nowitzki were acquired in separate deals on draft day in 1998. They met in Dallas a few days later and quickly became close friends.
Then, last summer, Nash signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, leaving his buddy behind to create his own shots for the first time in the NBA.
When Nash called with the news, Nowitzki was back home in Germany, working as he does every offseason with his personal coach-mentor, Holger Geschwindner. Coincidentally, they already had been focusing on his one-on-one game.
"I knew once Steve left that I'd have to work harder on everything," Nowitzki said. "Steve was so good at getting me open at all times. I knew it wasn't going to be that way any more, that I was going to have to make stuff happen off the dribble."
He proved he could from the start, putting up 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the opener and leading the Mavericks to seven wins in the first eight games. Then he started December by scoring 53 points -- a career high, franchise record and the most ever by a foreign player -- and finished the month as the conference's top player. He was picked again in February.
At 2.13m with endless range, Nowitzki's big change has been relying less on his jumper. He's posting up more and looking to drive whenever possible, plus using a great fake move that defenders fall for even when they're expecting it. As a result, he's replaced the easy shots Nash used to get him with easy points -- free throws.
An 86 percent career foul shooter, Nowitzki went into this weekend second in the league in made free throws and fifth in attempts. Better yet, as of April 1 he'd already made more free throws than he'd ever attempted in a season.
His new mindset stretches beyond the 3-point line. He's taking just three per game, down from 4.3 the last five seasons, but making a career-best 40 percent.
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