The Dirk Hair Tournament: (1) Beard Dirk vs. (3) Finals Dirk

Beard Dirk

Duration: February to April 2012 as part of the Beard Pact

Signature Moment: Game-winning 3-pointer against Chicago

Why this is Dirk's best look: Basketball Jesus Lives!

This is the only time Dirk has ever looked as good as he played. Just beautiful. All of his spectacular game-changing talent visualized in a mangy beard. Perfect.

The beard came to be from a team-wide challenge to grow beards until the Mavs reached a +500 record. Super sad, I know. But only Dirk can take a depressing thing and turn it a full-fledged miracle. And I mean it, this thing is a legit miracle.

It could totally walk on water. Seriously, try dipping the beard in a bucket of water and tell me it doesn't turn into wine.

- Jason Gallagher

Finals Dirk

Duration: The 2011 championship run, especially the six Finals games.

Signature Moment: That Game 2 game winner, of course.

Why this is his greatest look: Nobody had any clue that was going to be the year it happened, and this hair shows it. I mean, Dirk has always believed that his teams have a chance at going to the NBA Finals because he's playing for them, which is true, but he made his haircut schedule a little more predictable. He buzzed it earlier in the year, knowing he wouldn't have to cut it again until after the season -- April, May, whenever that ended up being. As it turns out, it ended up being early June.

By then, it was ragged, shaggy and unkempt. The facial hair was all over the place. A second round exit would have meant a more timely haircut, but Dirk couldn't stop beating teams. With each win, his hair got just that much more unruly. He never planned for it like that, and it's a microcosm for why the 2011 Finals were so great -- none of it was planned. It just happened.

- Tim Cato

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