As everyone seems to be talking about the Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett as the potential league MVP this season, on paper at least, Minneapolis Star-Tribune writer Steve Aschburner believes that many will have a hard time looking past Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks as being the NBA's best.

Aschburner writes that the "best player on the best team" criterion is a powerful one, even with a roster as deep and talented as Dallas'. Nowitzki leads the Mavericks in scoring (23.8) and rebounds (9.8) and ranks sixth and eighth in the NBA in those categories.

In an amazing stat when Nowitzki has been on the court Dallas has outscored teams by 671 points. When he sits, the Mavs have been outscored by 91. Garnett's numbers: plus-329 and minus-198.

"Some people would say 'Nowitzki does a lot and is one of the top players. But if you take Nowitzki off [their team], where would they be, compared to if you take Nash off?' Nash makes everybody so much better. Both those guys have to be considered."