It’s been a lost season for the Dallas Mavericks, as the team has struggled all year long and will miss out on the postseason. But if there has been a silver lining, it’s been that the longtime face of the franchise, Dirk Nowitzki, has hinted that he planned on coming back for his 21st NBA season in 2018-19.
Despite the fact that he posted the second-worst scoring and rebounding marks of his career, and despite the fact that the soon-to-be 40-year-old big man’s season came to an end because of ankle surgery, Nowitzki announced on Tuesday afternoon that he’ll suit up for Dallas next year. Nowitzki revealed his decision during his final press conference of the year on Tuesday.
The 🐐 says he's coming back for year 2️⃣1️⃣ 🙌#MFFL
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 10, 2018
Dirk Nowitzki on next season: "I'm planning on coming back." He said that's why he got the ankle surgery now.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 10, 2018
By doing this, Nowitzki will make a piece of hoops history. His 21 years spent with one franchise will break the tie he has with Kobe Bryant for the most time that a player has spent with one team. Additionally, 21 years of service in the Association ties the all-time record currently held by the trio of Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, and Kevin Garnett.
Sure, Nowitzki isn’t the player he was during his peak with the Mavericks, but there’s something about watching the Mavericks without him on the floor (or even on the bench) that seems like it wouldn’t be fun. Fortunately we won’t have to know what that feeling is like until the 2019-20 season at the absolute earliest.
