Dirk Nowitzki: “Looking Like” I’ll Play In 2018/19

The prime years of Dirk Nowitzki‘s career are behind him, but he’s not ready to ride off into the sunset quite yet. While Nowitzki said he doesn’t want to set anything in stone quite yet, he’s leaning toward playing at least one more season beyond this one, writes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News.

“I’m not going to say 100% I’ll be back — but it’s looking like it,” Nowitzki told Sefko. “I feel fine so far. I’ve played every game. I’d love to play all 82. That would be amazing at [age] 39. We’ll see how the body feels. But so far, it’s been fine.”

Nowitzki, who will turn 40 in June, signed a two-year, $10MM contract with Dallas this past offseason. That deal includes a team option for 2018/19, so the decision on whether or not the longtime Maverick will be back is technically up to the team. However, owner Mark Cuban has expressed hope that Nowitzki will return for 2018/19 to set the record for most years spent with one team, and it’s not as if Cuban would decline that option.

Although 2017/18 may not be Nowitzki’s last season, he did stress that his current deal “will be for sure my last contract,” according to Sefko. So if he returns for next season, it figures to be his farewell tour.

Having started all 28 games for the Mavs so far this season, Nowitzki is averaging 11.1 PPG and 5.6 RPG with a .443/.416/.919 shooting line.