Dirk on coach Carlisle asking him to play center: 'I thought he had a few beers'

Dirk Nowitzki will go down as one of the greatest shooters greatest overall players in NBA history - and when he does, he'll be remembered as a legendary power forward.

But the future Hall of Famer has also spent plenty of time over the years at the center position, including 37 percent of his floor time this season, according to Basketball Reference.

With Tyson Chandler missing Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dallas Mavericks - short on frontcourt depth after trading for Rajon Rondo - needed to do some tinkering, which resulted in Rick Carlisle rolling out a whimsical, smaller starting five.

That small unit included Nowitzki at the five, which caught the 36-year-old by surprise, to say the least.

It all worked out for Nowitzki, Carlisle and the Mavs in the end. Dirk poured in 30 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting to lift Dallas over OKC, 112-107.