After having a bit of a renaissance season in 2015-16 and leading an undermanned Mavericks team to the playoffs once again, the 2016-17 season has not been too kind to 39-year-old Dirk Nowitzki or the 6-18 Dallas Mavericks.
Dirk is dealing with a nagging and debilitating Achilles injury that has caused him to miss 19 of the first 24 games this season.
Apparently his inability to stay on the court has caused Dirk to re-evaluate how much longer his body can handle the demands of a grueling 82-game season. The former MVP and NBA champion is now considering hanging them up at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Dirk Nowitzki: 'If things don't go so well and it hurts everywhere, it could be that 2017 will be the end.' https://t.co/NBiG4Oe5LV pic.twitter.com/2xr3wkRFSm
— theScore (@theScore) December 14, 2016
Dirk shared his thoughts with German Magazine Sports Bild and added that the plan was to play 20 years, but he is re-thinking things.
“Actually, my plan is to complete the 20 years and play for Dallas until 2018. But just because I signed a two-year contract doesn’t automatically mean that I will play for two years. It could happen next year.”
He is signed through the 2018 season at $25 million per season.
Dirk is out indefinitely with his Achilles injury and is unsure when he will be able to start practicing again, let alone play in another game. He can reach out to his former foe and fellow western conference superstar Kobe Bryant to know how difficult it is to deal and come back from an Achilles injury in your late 30s.
Here’s to hoping Dirk can heal up and we can see a little more magic from the greatest European player to ever play in the NBA.
