Why Dirk Nowitzki declined to be an assistant coach under Steve Nash

Dirk Nowitzki declined Steve Nash’s offer to be his assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets.

After spending a few seasons together with the Dallas Mavericks, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki became lifelong friends in the process. Hailed as two of the greatest players in NBA history with three regular-season MVP awards, 22 All-Star appearances, 20 All-NBA selections and dozens of team records between the two of them, Nash and Nowitzki have kept in touch and were even hiking together in July.

According to Brad Townsend of Dallas News, when Nash was offered the Brooklyn Nets head coaching job, he reached out to his former Mavs teammate and Western Conference nemesis to see if he wanted to be on his coaching staff as an assistant.

Nowitzki turned down the job offer, for multiple reasons.

Dirk Nowitzki was in no rush to join Steve Nash on the sidelines

According to Townsend, Nowitzki cited his family and his love for the Mavs as the biggest reasons for turning down Nash’s offer.

"“First of all, I don’t know if I could do it anywhere but here,” he said. “That’s of course first. Second, I just think the timing is not right. I love being with the family. I’m so over basketball at this point that it wasn’t even a thought for me.”"

Referring to Dallas as “here,” Nowitzki couldn’t picture himself coaching for a team that wasn’t the Mavericks. He also has a standing offer from owner Mark Cuban to rejoin the franchise in whatever capacity suits him whenever he so chooses.

Since he retired from the NBA in 2019 after 21 seasons, the 42-year-old Dirk seems to be enjoying retirement and spending time with his family. Between Cuban’s open door and Nash’s recent offer, it feels inevitable that Nowitzki will be back in the league in some capacity in the next few years. But for now, he’s is no rush.