After scoring 30 points against the Suns on Tuesday night, Dirk Nowitzki confirmed that the Mavericks‘ final home game of the 2018/19 season will also be the last home game of his 21-year NBA career (Twitter link via Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News). Nowitzki will retire at season’s end.
The ninth overall pick in the 1998 draft, Nowitzki spent his entire career with the Mavericks, appearing in over 1,500 regular season games with the team and playing in another 145 postseason contests. Over the course of two-plus decades in Dallas, Nowitzki averaged 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 2.4 APG on .471/.381/.879 shooting. He also memorably led the Mavs to an NBA championship in 2011 against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Heat.
The 40-year-old ranks third on the NBA’s all-time list of games played and total minutes, and shows up on many more of the league’s historical leaderboards. Nowitzki was named the MVP in 2007 and earned 14 All-Star berths to go along with 12 All-NBA nods. He is also the only player to have spent 21 seasons with a single franchise.
While Nowitzki talked throughout the year about possibly coming back for one more season, he’ll instead join Wade in retirement following tomorrow’s regular-season finale in San Antonio. Wade also played his final home game tonight.
As for his next step, Nowitzki wants to remain around the Mavericks even if he’s no longer playing for the team, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who tweets that the club has been planning a “unique role” for the future Hall-of-Famer. Mavs owner Mark Cuban promised tonight that Nowitzki would have a “job for life” with the organization (Twitter link via Marc Stein of The New York Times).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
What a career Dirk! Thank you!
It will be a little surreal watching the NBA next year without Dirk Nowitzki in it. Thanks for many great memories.
I was 13 when Dirk came into the league. I remember everything he did for the game and what he meant for NBA globally. He’s one of the best PURE shooters I’ve ever seen. The grace, the charisma, the passion, the loyalty and love for the game is a great an example for future and current players to model themselves. Thank you Dirk for letting me grow up with your career.
The Big Germ!! Glad he got his ring by defeating the draft of 03
About time according to Charles Barkley in Sports Illustrated…..
It’s for the best. Feels like Porzingis’ “allegations” helped make this decision easier. Really happy he retired with a Ring. Even better… They beat the Miami Heat Big 3.
I can not see in any way shape or form how those two things are correlated
Lol for real
nba could update their logo with an image of the one leg step-back
They would have to pay for that though lol
Great player, great person. As a lakers fan this man killed us a lot.
nah yall killed us a lot when yall had Kobe, Gasol and Bynum lol. i live in texas and would stay up past midnight watching lakers vs mavs games. i was SHOCKED when we swept yall in the 2011 title run.
Cuban will be inconsolable: Dirk’s success covered up all the bad stuff happening in the Mass organization.
This really sucks. The mavs have a chance to be really good next year and i would have loved to see Dirk chase a second title.
Dude had an amazing career, but wow it was painful to watch him play this year. Wade and Carter are still good NBA players. Dirk, not so much.
Can’t wait for people to critique your path to retirement…oh wait nobody will because nobody cares…get a life dude
Congrats Dirk on an amazing career! I am a Lakers fan but I’m also a fan of the game and I’ve enjoyed following your career since I was 14 years old…you are a true pro in every sense of the word and I wish you nothing but the best as you ride off into the sunset and in short order, the HOF
ive been a Mavs fan since 8th grade. that was 13 years ago. he was an idol of mine. its going to be weird not seeing him next season….. i will hold out hope and maybe he suits up for a playoff run if someone gets injured next season. i dont see that happening, but i will hold out hope :)
2k sports should have a D-wade and Dirk on the next cover