Dirk Nowitzki to Decide on Future ‘Year-By-Year’

The Dallas Mavericks re-upped with Dirk Nowitzki this summer, signing the future Hall of Famer to a two-year, $50 million deal.

Nowitzki, 38, says he will decide whether or not to keep playing on an annual basis.

The 2007 NBA MVP suited up in 75 games for the Mavs last season, putting up averages of 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 31 minutes a night.

Per Today’s Fastbreak:

“He [Mark Cuban] actually gave me another raise,” Nowitzki said. “He’s been incredibly loyal to me and I’ve shown obviously that I’ve wanted to be here the last couple of years, and I think he wanted to reward me in a way. Yeah, it makes me obviously feel great and feel wanted. I’m happy that I can finish my career here in Dallas, where I always wanted to be, and hopefully finish strong the last couple of years.”

 

“I always said I wanted to kind of take it year-by-year. Signing a two-year deal doesn’t mean I necessarily have to play those two years. I think we’ll see how next year goes, how the body responds and then we’ll make that decision again next year,” Nowitzki said. “But obviously, I would love to play the next two years and then just see how it goes.”

 

Dirk is there to make a great pass, corral an occasional rebound or knock down an open three, but mostly he’s there to help his teammates thrive, a role he seems to have embraced wholeheartedly. […] “Hopefully for the next two years [I’m] still doing some of the same things I was going to be able to do last year, just be able to help the guys spread the floor, maybe some timely baskets here and there and maybe get a rebound every now and again,” he said.

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