Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki became just the fourth player in NBA history to play 1,500 games. The Mavs star joined NBA legends Robert Parish (1611 games played), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1560), and John Stockton (1504) in the exclusive list.

Nowitzki, who entered the NBA in 1998 as the ninth overall pick, has maintained a relatively injury-free career. It’s just now in the later stages of his career that signs of wear and tear are manifesting.

But in his prime, the 40-year-old German proved his durability amid the tough NBA schedule. He has only missed a handful of regular season games due to rest or a minor injury. It should also be noted that Nowitzki led the Mavs to multiple playoff appearances which is another solid proof of his stamina and durability.

He’ll likely pass Utah Jazz legend Stockton in the list. And if he remains healthy, he might even pass the great Abdul-Jabbar. Though he hasn’t announced if this will be his last season or not, many believe that he’ll likely hang up the jersey for good once the season is over.

Whether he continues playing or not, he’s already considered a legend in everyone’s book. He’s just playing ball for the love of the game and competition. Frankly, he can do whatever he wants at this point in his career.