Dirk Nowitzki Wants to Play in Germany During Lockout

Brandon Jennings was the first “big” name to claim he’d play overseas during the seemingly-inevitable lockout next season, and now Dirk says he’d do the same. Thing is, though, it won’t be easy at all for NBA players to play in other leagues. From the NY Times (via The Bild): “More N.B.A. players are starting to look abroad for playing opportunities, exploring options for next season if there is a lockout. Dallas Mavericks All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, who hails from Germany, has told German newspaper The Bild that he will likely come home to play if the N.B.A. is shut down. Similar remarks were made two weeks ago by Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, who said he will probably go back to his native Russia to play during a lockout. ‘Instead of doing nothing for a year, I will come to Germany,’ Nowitzki said in German. According to N.B.A. cap guru Larry Coon via a ProBasketballTalk.com post, however, he won’t be allowed to because of international transfer rules that prohibit players under contract in one league from playing in another.”