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Nowitzki passes Olajuwon to become NBA's highest-scoring international player

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Dirk Nowitzki added another accomplishment to his Hall of Fame resume Tuesday night. 

With his 17th point against the Sacramento Kings, Nowitzki passed Hakeem Olajuwon for ninth on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 27,947 points, becoming the highest-scoring international player in league history. 

Kirk Henderson's post on Vine

Nowitzki finished the game with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He added seven rebounds and three assists as the Mavericks took down the Kings 106-98. 

Nowitzki, drafted ninth overall in 1998 by the Milwaukee Bucks, has spent his entire 17-year career with the Dallas Mavericks, and is a 12-time All-Star. He led the Mavericks to the 2010-11 NBA championship. 

Olajuwon, who spent 17 of his 18 years with the Houston Rockets, left the game at 39 after a final season with the Toronto Raptors. Nowitzki, in comparison, is 36, and still going strong. 

Next on the list for Nowitzki to catch are Elvin Hayes (27,313 points) at No. 8, and Moses Malone (27,409 points) at No. 7.

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