Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki said Tuesday he is determined to return for another season with the club and hopes to end his career in Texas. The German forward, who turns 38 in June, has one "opt-in" season remaining on a three-year deal, and confirmed that he plans to stay.
"I signed on for three years a couple years ago. My intention was always to finish this contract," said Nowitzki, speaking in the wake of the Mavericks' NBA playoff exit to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
"I always said I wanted to retire with the Mavs, especially after we won the championship a few years ago. There's no reason to go anywhere unless the Mavs are rebuilding," he added. "I'd never want to be a part of rebuilding. Next season, I'll be 38. As long as we go for it and every summer we add guys and keep competing, then I'll be a Mav for the rest of my career."
Respect
Nowitzki averaged 20.4 points in the Mavs 4-1 series defeat to the Thunder, which concluded with a 118-104 loss on Monday. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, meanwhile, is determined to ensure Nowitzki stays with the team.
"I'm ready to get on a plane and go to Germany and recruit him to be back, but I don't think we can take that for granted," Carlisle said. "I think we have to give him that kind of respect.
"He's done so much for our organisation. He's sacrificed so much. And it's been such a life-changing experience for me to be around a player of that magnitude for eight years. It's indescribable. I think he will be back, but I don't want anybody to just assume anything, because he's been too great."
Nowitzki is the sixth highest points scorer in NBA history with 29,491 career points. The highlight of his NBA career came in 2011 when he led the Mavericks to the NBA crown and was named finals Most Valuable Player.
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