Dirk Nowitzki has a player option for the 2016-17 season, and though he’s indicated that he will indeed pick up that option (as long as the Mavs don’t go into full-rebuild-mode), it’s been unclear up to this point whether he’ll retire afterward. Now, it’s looking more and more like the Big German might play at least one more season beyond that so he can reach an ever-so-rare NBA milestone. Via Marc Stein of ESPN.com:
Currently in his 18th season, Nowitzki said, “My goal was when I signed this three-year deal to fulfill that contract. And so if I play next year through, by that point I’ll be 39. To be honest, 20 years [in the NBA] would sound really, really great. And next year would obviously be my 19th year, so maybe after this next year I could sign on one more. But I’ll just have to wait and see, I think, at this point.”
Former teammate Vince Carter expressed a similar sentiment recently. Like Dirk, the 39-year-old Grizzlies forward is currently in his 18th season and would need to play at least two more years to reach the mark. If they manage to do so, they’ll join exclusive company. Only four players in NBA history have played at least 20 seasons: Kevin Willis, Robert Parish, Kevin Garnett, and Kobe Bryant.
(ESPN.com)
