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good for Dirk, i have no doubt he will win a ring in dallas before he retires
Nowitzki remains committed to winning with Dallas
By Jaime Aron
Dirk Nowitzki is the backbone of the Dallas Mavericks, the first MVP in franchise history and the career leader in pretty much every scoring category.
All that’s missing is a championship, and he’s not interested in going anywhere else to get one.
“After I played here for 11 years—played hurt, played sick, whatever they needed me to do, basically playing my heart (out) for the last 11 years—I don’t think it would feel the same way somewhere else,” Nowitzki said. “It’s always been my dream here to finish my career and win a championship. I think my window has not closed yet and I’ll still see what we can do.”
Nowitzki inadvertently raised the question of how long he was willing to stick with the organization while describing his disappointment over falling short again this season.
After the Mavs were eliminated by Denver on Wednesday night, then again during a wrapup interview Thursday, Nowitzki mentioned several times that this was his 11th season and that he’ll be turning 31 in a few weeks. He talked about the window of opportunity starting to close, calling every le-less season a waste. He also said he understands that 36-year-old Jason Kidd might sign with another team he considers closer to winning a championship.
So, does all that mean Nowitzki thinks the Mavs are far from winning a le? That time is running out for him? Or maybe that he’s running out of patience?
No, no, no.
“I always said I’d love to finish my career here and bring this franchise a championship,” he said. “I still feel like I have a good three, four years left of solid basketball. I don’t want to feel overanxious and put my pressure on myself. I’m going to be ready to play and I’m going to work hard again this summer and do more of the same again next year.”
Nowitzki noted that he could opt out of his contract in 2010 “if I wanted to,” but he didn’t say it in a threatening way.
In fact, he tempered the thought by adding, “I never really thought about it this way.”
Nowitzki is coming off perhaps his best year other than his MVP season of 2006-07.
He averaged 25.9 points and 8.4 rebounds and was first-team All-NBA—or, as coach Rick Carlisle put it, he was voted “the best power forward on the planet.”
His numbers were down in the first round of the playoffs because San Antonio based its defense around slowing him. Then, facing single coverage from the Nuggets, he averaged 34.4 points, scoring 44 in Dallas’ lone victory. He did it while dealing with his girlfriend getting arrested at his home, bringing unwanted attention on his very private non-basketball life.
“It takes a strong individual to go through what he did and then carry us on his back through this whole playoffs,” teammate Jason Terry said.
Part of Nowitzki’s devotion to Dallas stems from his confidence in owner Mark Cuban and front-office boss Donnie Nelson.
“It’s pretty obvious (Cuban) wants to win—getting in fights with people in the stands, being fired up about every loss,” Nowitzki said, laughing. “I think he wants to win as much as I do. He made all the right statements that we’re trying to improve the team this summer.”
If it was up to Nowitzki, the Mavericks’ offseason plan would start with keeping Kidd.
“His leadership on and off the floor has been great,” Nowitzki said. “He’s showed that even though he’s a little older that he’s a warrior. He played 40-some minutes the last couple of months when we needed to win games.”
Next, Nowitzki would make sure to “keep some of the core guys and just add pieces.” He’d like better defenders, more 3-point shooters and some young, fast, leapers so Kidd “can actually throw some lobs on the break.”
“It really showed in the second round that we need some athleticism,” he said. “Denver was just stronger and faster, it felt like, at every position.”
As for Nowitzki’s offseason, he’s expecting the German national team to ask him to play in the European championships. He’s not sure he wants to after reaching the pinnacle of playing in the Olympics last summer.
“That was one of the greatest times of my life,” he said. “It’s hard for me to imagine … starting all over again. I’ll just have to wait and see. The good thing is that it’s not until September. By that time, knowing me, I’ll probably be in the gym for a couple months anyway.”
good for Dirk, i have no doubt he will win a ring in dallas before he retires
well get paid 20 million to go to playoffs or get the MLE for a guaranteed le. i cant blame him the money is worth it
The reason i say that is because the dude is still someone you can build around...he had 44 points in game 4.
The Mavs need some tweaks, you guys are fogetting how good they were right before the kidd trade.
It has nothing to do with Dirk; the guy is a baller
But it has more to do with the tweaks you mentioned; this organization is going nowhere
Something the Mavs and Spurs have in common
I do remember, and I think you're an idiot
Shot under 30% and lost 90-67 against Pistons
Looked like on consecutive nights against garbage teams like New Jersey and Philly
Looked stagnant, defense had completely regressed etc. Nowitzki was playing terribly by his lofty hall of fame 2006 NBA champion standards.
Devin was injured for a span but the play was atrocious regardless.
Avery was ing around with rotations and small ball gimmick BS too.
After the Kidd trade the Mavs margin of victory improved, Dirk was playing amazing.
Josh howard decided to mail it in though, the best PF in the game missed 5 games, and the Mavs were 2-8 in cloes games.
It was NOT Kidd's fault last year. He came in and the defense skyrocketed and Dirk was amazing. Wasn't Kidd's fault J-Ho decided to quit and the Mavs were unlucky in close games.
But casual observers didn't notice these things, so they started to on future hall of fame PG Jason Kidd for the Mavs' post ASB woes when Howard was the one who wasn't playing well.
Actually, we've been somewhereSomething the Mavs and Spurs have in common
(that's right:, gots )
backpedaling is fun.
Hey, facts are facts
Thank you for the kind words Sook, but I think the window in Dallas is closed. Even if Cuban wants to absorb all kinds of contracts, they have no assets to invovle in trades. If he wants a le Dirk has to go somewhere else.
Kidd is old.
Terry has one or two years left.
Howard is a giant question mark.
Hard to see that team being relevant again for the next five years.
I highly doubt Dirk will ever get a ring. But I dont feel sorry for him. He had his chance and choked.
well I think Terry agrees with you right now anyway
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archi...y-right-n.html
as much as I hate the Mavs, I do follow them because Kidd want to see how he does, so I know if they don't make some trades this offseason Terry is right, that they are a long way away. Right now they are in the middle not the worst, but Dirk and Kidd aren't getting any younger so if your keeping them on the team to play better start changing players
Damn. I was hoping he would say he wanted to sign with the Spurs.
Seriously though, I respect that. He would rather stay loyal to his team, and maybe not win a championship. I have more respect for guys like Reggie Miller and the like who have not gone on to get a "ring" on someone else's coat tails. Loyalty is hard to find these days.
He didn't choke worth . 29/15 in Game 6 while his team mates shoot 33% and D-Whistle shoots a bunch of undeserved FT's. And an incredible shot over Shaq in Game 5 that is forgotten because of a phantom foul sending Whistle to the FT line with 2 seconds left.
Big ing deal if he missed a FT, Dirk will miss 1/2 FT's 20% of the time and just because it happened at a bad time doesn't make it a "choke". D-Whistle and Shaq missed FT's that series too.
Dirk can/maybe will win a le when he's a major piece to a team but not the main one, like when Clyde left Portland (where he was the man) and went to Houston (where he was the man next to the man).
I agree I think Dirk isn't winning because he is the main man on the team, not saying he isn't good, just saying I think he needs someone else who can be a main man
I hated when Reggie Miller played the Nets when he was playing, but the day he stopped playing I respected him so much more because he didn't win a ringDamn. I was hoping he would say he wanted to sign with the Spurs.
Seriously though, I respect that. He would rather stay loyal to his team, and maybe not win a championship. I have more respect for guys like Reggie Miller and the like who have not gone on to get a "ring" on someone else's coat tails. Loyalty is hard to find these days.
In other words: You mean he should go to the Spurs and play alongside Duncan, right? Maybe that gives him a ring, who knows?
But honestly, I have a huge respect for Dirk to be such a loyal player (as manufan10 already wrote). These people are hard to find nowadays. Thus, I think we won't find out what would happen if he goes to another team.
Dirk for bonner?
Yeah, just like my first comment was a fact.
dirk not so bright
he was warned against his girlfriend law troubles
now this
I kinda feel bad for Dirk...he busts his ass and all that effort is wasted...without him, the Mavs are a ing lottery team.
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