Dirk Nowitzki Will Return for the Dallas Mavericks one-year, $5 million

[Doobie Doo]

Dirk Nowitzki Will Return for the Dallas Mavericks
Image

Dirk Nowitzki is ready to re-up with the Mavericks.CreditTony Gutierrez/Associated Press


By Marc Stein

• July 23, 2018

Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks will sign a one-year, $5 million contract on Monday that sets him up for a record-setting 21st consecutive season with the only franchise he has ever played for, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations.

The new deal will enable Nowitzki to pass the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant for the longest unbroken tenure with one team in N.B.A. history.

Nowitzki, who turned 40 in June, has assured the Mavericks that he is prepared, if necessary, to play what is likely to be his final N.B.A. season in a reserve role, according to the people, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks publicly.

Needing just 233 points to surpass Wilt Chamberlain as the league’s fifth all-time leading scorer, Nowitzki knows that the Mavericks could ask him to come off the bench next season after signing the veteran center DeAndre Jordan in free agency. Nowitzki is fine with the switch, according to the people, as Dallas seeks to establish Jordan alongside its cornerstone trio of Harrison Barnes, Dennis Smith Jr. and the prized rookie Luka Doncic.

Nowitzki underwent ankle surgery in April, but has said repeatedly that he intends to play at least one more season.

Nowitzki and the Mavericks made the mutual decision in June for Dallas to decline his original $5 million team option for next season in case the extra salary-cap space that move created could help the team in free agency. But the Mavericks made its primary summer acquisition – signing Jordan away from the Los Angeles Clippers – without using all of its cap space, enabling them to re-sign Nowitzki to the same deal was he originally scheduled to receive.


Dirk Nowitzki Will Return for the Dallas Mavericks

 

[havoc]

He could have made 5 million dollar easily as a retired player with endorsement deals.

 

[Tim2520]

He must have some sort of handshake deal with Mark Cuban that he would get a percentage of the team once he retires because he's been paid below his market rate for damn near a decade now

 

[Sauce Dab]

He could have made 5 million dollar easily as a retired player with endorsement deals.

Or maybe Dirk just loves to play basketball. Are endorsements illegal to get after you've played 21 seasons in the NBA?

 

[El Coupeacabra]

He must have some sort of handshake deal with Mark Cuban that he would get a percentage of the team once he retires because he's been paid below his market rate for damn near a decade now

I honestly think he's just a low-ego guy who likes playing basketball. He has nothing left to prove


EDIT: @Sauce Dab thats some spooky shyt breh

 

[Doobie Doo]

He must have some sort of handshake deal with Mark Cuban that he would get a percentage of the team once he retires because he's been paid below his market rate for damn near a decade now

I don't think a guy who has all these sexual harassment allegations at his place of business would do things under the table like that.

 

[Jax]

He could have made 5 million dollar easily as a retired player with endorsement deals.

It's not about the money.

 

[75 Others]

Dirk's first playoff series against the Jazz had Stockton had Malone mad as fukk

Either Dirk was shooting over folks or Finley was yamming on someone

 

[Bilz]

He must have some sort of handshake deal with Mark Cuban that he would get a percentage of the team once he retires because he's been paid below his market rate for damn near a decade now

Wasnt it just a couple years that he took less to help them out in free agency? I thought they paid him back recently when they struck out in free agency and just gave him what was left.

 

[str8up]

He had a team option for the same amount, Dallas declined to have more cap flexibility in FA. Now they're paying him the same amount he would have gotten if they picked up the team option.

 

[Damnshow]

He must have some sort of handshake deal with Mark Cuban that he would get a percentage of the team once he retires because he's been paid below his market rate for damn near a decade now

he ain't getting no percentages of the team. This is mark cuban we are talking about. These owners ain't that grateful to their franchise players, Jerry gave nothing to Mike or Phil when they left, KG was promised a spot in wolves ownership, nothing happened. Duncan been taking paycuts like forever, is he getting something from spurs after retirement? At least someone like Bron made that fool gilbert spend every damn dime for that championship ring

Dirk gonna mentor Luka this year, and once he retires they will build him a statue, retire his jersey and you won't hear about Dirk Mavs ever again. Thats how these shady team owners work.

 

[I.AM.PIFF]

Or maybe Dirk just loves to play basketball. Are endorsements illegal to get after you've played 21 seasons in the NBA?

yeah, he's made his money (could've/should've made much more tho), won his ring and is a legend in the game

Plus, he's good in every hood in Dallas @dtownreppin214 @Ashyneezz @BigE214 @*DalMem* @DallasTxRep

 

[dtownreppin214]

Dirk's first playoff series against the Jazz had Stockton had Malone mad as fukk

Either Dirk was shooting over folks or Finley was yamming on someone

calvin booth.

 

[Black White Sox Hat]

NBA Live fukkked his ass up!

Look more like Denver the Last Dinosaur than Dirk.

 

[Mʀ2ᴋDᴇᴇᴢ]

Dirk's longevity