Dirk Nowitzki seems to have a few options going into this summer.
The 37-year-old superstar can stick with the Dallas Mavericks, exercise a player option or, the worst-case scenario—retire.
Nowitzki is up there in age so his hanging up the sneakers wouldn’t be a major shocker. This is especially the case considering the Mavericks look to have an uphill battle to contend in the Western Conference after a 42-win season and a five-game dismissal at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs. Rather than abandoning a sluggish rebuild, Nowitzki could always join another team, but it’d hurt a relationship he’s forged with Dallas and its fans since 1998.
Bobby Karalla of Mavs.com transcribed an interview taken by 105.3 The Fan:
Just trying to find out what the best (thing to do) is. Is it best to stay in the contract and play next year and keep the same pay, or should I opt out? Is that best for the franchise? Just trying to find out from Donnie and Mark what’s out there, what the plan is. So, 100%, my mind’s not made up, but I’m leaning toward opting out and trying to help, and see what’s out there.
That doesn’t sound like a guy ready to walk out on the Mavericks or the NBA.
Great, so how long do NBA fans have to watch the legendary Nowitzki? It sounds like he hopes it’s two years at a minimum to get to the 20-year mark:
The 37-year-old Nowitzki said he does hope to play at least two more seasons, which would take him to 20 in his legendary career. Currently sitting just more than 500 points away from 30,000 for his career, the German will become just the sixth player in NBA history to reach that milestone. Obviously individual accolades don’t matter to Nowitzki as much as they might to his fans, as the 2011 Finals MVP would rather compete for a second championship in his final seasons in the league.
Good news all around, then, as the NBA will lose an all-time great when Nowitzki does hang them up. And good luck trying to picture him wearing a different jersey. Toronto purple or Boston green? Didn’t think so.
At the least, folks now understand Nowitzki isn’t leaving just yet. What makes for one of the more interesting storylines of the summer, though, is how Nowitzki and the Mavericks tackle his contract situation and perhaps free agency while the organization attempts to get the most out of his last few years in the Association.
