Dirk jokes Barnes would need 'major skill' to have 20-year career

After nearly two decades in the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki has no problem telling it how it is.

When his Dallas Mavericks teammate, Harrison Barnes, sought advice on how to reach Nowitzki's level of success, the future Hall of Famer responded by burning the fifth-year forward in Dirk-like fashion.

"Honestly, I've just been trying to work as hard as I can and spend as much time as I can with him in the gym," Barnes told 105.3 FM The Fan's Ben and Skin Show. "I remember one day at practice, we're standing on the sidelines on the gym and said, 'Oh man, Dirk, you're about to get to 20 years. That's impressive. Do you think I can get to 20 years?' He's like, 'No way man. You need major skill to get to 20 years.'"

Nowitzki has been brutally honest with Barnes since the 25-year-old arrived in Dallas last summer, revealing in April that he thought the former Golden State Warriors forward would be a bust when he signed a four-year, $94-million contract with the Mavericks in July.