It
has been a tough season for the Dallas Mavericks. The once playoff perennial
participant that made the playoffs for 12 straight seasons and 15 of the prior
16 seasons will miss the postseason for the second straight season. The one
constant had been future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 14 points in
the team’s 115-109 win versus the Portland Trail Blazers (48-31) on Wednesday
night. Unfortunately, that would be the last game the future Hall of Famer
would play this season.
On
Thursday, the 13-time All-Star and 2011 Finals MVP had a debridement surgery on
his left ankle that was performed by Dr. Eugene Curry and Dr. Daniel Worrel at
the Carrell Clinic in Dallas, TX.
According
to a report from www.espn.com’s staff writer Tim MacMahon, the
surgery the 39-year-old Nowitzki, the 2007 NBA regular season MVP had on his
ankle was considered relatively minor and should have no impact on his decision
to return for his 21st season in the league.
The
Wurzburg, West Germany native, who did not travel with the Mavericks (24-56)
for their 105-100 loss at the Orlando Magic (24-54) on Wednesday night has on
many occasions that he wants to play next season if his body will allow him to.
A
Mavericks team source told ESPN about Nowitzki, “We expect a full and rapid
recovery.”
It
was also reported that Nowitzki decided to have the surgery on Thursday to
accelerate his rehab to allow him the chance to play next season.
Despite
scoring just seven points with six rebounds in the Mavericks 93-92 loss versus
the Minnesota Timberwolves (44-35) on Mar. 30, Nowitzki made league history
setting the single-season record playing in his 75th game for a
player in their 20th season or higher.
He
surpassed the previous mark held by Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and
former Boston Celtic Robert Parish who each played in 74 games in their 20th
and 21st seasons in 1988-89 and the 1995-96 season respectably.
Future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, who played his entire 20-year NBA career with
the Los Angeles Lakers played in 66 games in the 2015-16 season, his 20th.
The late Hall of Famer Moses Malone played in 55 games in his second stint with
the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1993-94 season, which was also his 20th.
It
was another addition to the career resume of Nowitzki, the sixth leading scorer
in NBA history, who averaged 12.0 points, his lowest since his rookie season in
the 1998-99 strike shortened season and 5.7 rebounds, his lowest since his
second season in the league in 1999-00 in 24.7 minutes for the Mavericks this
season. He did shoot however his highest percentage of three-point range since
2012-13 at 40.9.
The
Mavericks do have a team option for Nowitzki and his $5 million salary for the
2018-19 season and team owner Mark Cuban has made it clear that he hopes that
Nowitzki, who will turn 40 this June will return to play another season with the
only franchise he has played for in his career.
If
Nowitzki does return, he would have a chance to become the fifth all-time
leading scorer in NBA history, being only 232 points shy of passing the late Hall
of Famer Wilt Chamberlin. He would also break a tie with Bryant for the longest
career stint with one team by returning for his 21st season with the
Mavericks.
Whether
he decides to return or if he decides to retire, Dirk Nowitzki can say one
thing that not a lot of professional athletes can say, that they not only
finished their career playing for just one franchise, but they did it on their
terms. He became a great player individually. He helped turn a team from a
perennial loser into a consistent playoff participant and eventually an NBA
champion when the Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in 2011 to win their first ever
NBA title. Above all, Dirk Nowitzki came from another country where he was
special and became even more special in the NBA.
“As
of now, I’m planning to come back,” Nowitzki, who had played in 77 of the team’s
78 games prior to his surgery said to NBA writer Marc Stein of The New York Times last week. “I feel
great. I’ve only missed one game all season. I signed a two-year contract because
I wanted to play two more years. And here we are.”
Information,
statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 4/5/18 www.nba.com
article “Dirk Nowitzki To Miss Rest of Season After Minor Left Ankle Surgery;”
4/5/18 www.espn.com article, “Dirk Nowitzki To
Miss Rest of Season After Undergoing Ankle Surgery,” by Tim MacMahon; www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/dal/dallas-mavericks;
www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/gamelog/_/id/609/dirk-nowitzki;
www.espn.com/nba/standings; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dallas_Mavericks_seasons;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk_Nowitzki;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Malone;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Parish;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareem_Abdul-Jabbar;
and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Stein_(reporter).
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