15. Is this the last weāll see of Dirk Nowitzki?
What I Said Then: I hope not. I really hope not. Heās entering his 20th season in the league and there is a club option on his contract for 2018-19. But heāll be 40-years-old prior to next season and there are a lot of miles on his lanky legs.
What Iām Saying Now: DIRK BACK!
And Iām sad about it. Nowitzki was a shell of his former self this past season. He still shoots the ball better than just about anyone in the league, but he can barely get open in 2018. He averaged 12 points per game this season, his lowest output since his rookie season.
Nowitzki had a good attitude about things. He didnāt request a trade after Mark Cuban told the team to tank. He didnāt request a trade after the Mavericks harassment scandal broke. And he didnāt request a trade to chase one more ring. In a sport were loyalty only exists when itās convenient, Nowitzki is fiercely loyal.
Heās undergoing offseason surgery to remove bone spurs in his ankle. That doesnāt sound fun for a guy who will be 40-years-old in June and has played 21 seasons in the NBA. His heart is in the right place. He wants to see Dallas through tough times, but heās turning into a liability with his lack of mobility.
Best case scenario for Dallas is Luca Doncic falling into their laps. Not because it makes sense from a basketball standpoint, but because a reality show between the two would be fun. Dirk takes the rookie into his home, shows him the ropes in the organization, gets involved in a little bit of hazing.
Dirk & Doncic coming soon to the E! Network.