Dirk Nowitzki is widely regarded as the greatest player in Dallas Mavericks history.
Nowitzki played for the Mavs from 1998 to 2019, leading the team to its only NBA Championship in 2011. He is deeply cherished in Dallas for his loyalty, humility, and skill, and his legacy as a Maverick is unmatched.
The Mavericks were fortunate to have the perfect successor in Luka Doncic, who joined the team as a rookie during Nowitzki’s final season. The two Mavs legends share a special bond, despite playing together for just one year. Recently, Nowitzki reflected on the end of his career, revealing some honest thoughts about the season he played with Doncic.
Dirk Nowitzki admits he should have retired earlier.
As Nowitzki’s career wound down, it became clear that he wasn’t the same player, and his time in the NBA was nearing an end. Last week, Nowitzki acknowledged that he missed the ideal moment to retire and believes he should have stepped away two years earlier.
“I think I missed the right time if you watched my last two years,” Nowitzki said. “It’s always hard to find the right moment for a competitor. The decision was kind of made for me. I think mentally I could have done one more year to see Luka grow and help him out. But physically I couldn’t keep it up.”
In his final seasons, Nowitzki struggled to move as he once did, and his playing time steadily decreased, with him logging fewer than 16 minutes per game in his last year. His body simply couldn’t endure the demands of the NBA any longer, and while retirement wasn’t something he eagerly anticipated, he now seems to enjoy his time away from the game. Nowitzki can still be seen at Mavs games occasionally and appears to cherish the time he spends with his family.
Nowitzki now serves as an advisor for the Mavericks, and although he admitted that he should have retired two years earlier, he has remained connected to the game since retiring. He confessed that he’s not “advising that much” in his current role but maintains strong relationships with everyone in the organization and frequently talks basketball with head coach Jason Kidd.
While the friendship between Nowitzki and Doncic is well-known, a lesser-known bond that emerged last season is the one between Nowitzki and Kyrie Irving. Irving referred to himself as a “little brother” to Nowitzki and said that Nowitzki is someone he “can always go to if (he) need(s) some resources and advice.”
Nowitzki’s impact on the Mavericks is immeasurable, and his contributions to the team will never be forgotten.
