Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Friday 7 July 2017
AP source: Mavs, Nowitzki

agree on 2-year, $10M deal

U.S. coach Bruce Arena, left, and assistant coach Dave Sara-
chan watch team introductions for an international friendly soc-
cer match between the United States and Ghana on Saturday,
July 1, 2017, in East Hartford, Conn.
Associated Press
U.S. drops 12

spots to 35th, near

low in FIFA rankings

ZURICH (AP) — The United States dropped 12 spots to
35th in the FIFA rankings, one above the Americans’
low in July and August 2012.
In this March 7, 2017, file photo, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, of Germany, celebrates Much of the drop is attributable to a devaluation of
sinking a three-point basket early in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Los points from last year’s Copa America. Under FIFA’s
Angeles Lakers in Dallas. formula, a nation’s ranking is based on adding its av-
Associated Press erage points from matches in the last 12 months to its
average points in the three years before.
Germany took over the top spot for the first time in ex-
By SCHUYLER DIXON $5 million deal is more in line 7-foot German is also the actly two years, moving up two places Thursday after
AP Sports Writer with his role on a roster that only foreign-born player winning the Confederations Cup last weekend with
DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowit- has become significantly with 30,000 career points, a a second-string roster. Brazil dropped to second and
zki has a deal with the Dal- younger since the start of milestone he reached last Argentina to third.
las Mavericks that sets him last season. The $25 million season. Since Germany last led the rankings, exactly Brazil, Ar-
up to join Kobe Bryant as salary from a year ago was But Nowitzki wants to get gentina and Belgium have held the top spot.
the only players to spend as much about Dallas pay- back into playoff conten- Portugal, which finished third at the Confederations
20 seasons with one NBA ing Nowitzki for his loyalty, tion before he leaves after Cup, rose four places to No. 4. Switzerland climbed
franchise. Nowitzki and the which included taking less the Mavericks missed the to No. 5 by beating the Faeroe Islands to extend its
Mavericks have agreed money to help acquire free postseason for just the sec- perfect record in World Cup qualifying.
on a two-year, $10 mil- agents through the years. ond time in 17 seasons. Poland, also unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, rose
lion contract that carries Bryant retired following the Nowitzki was second to to No. 6, and Confederations Cup runner-up Chile fell
a team option in the sec- 2015-16 season, his 20th Harrison Barnes in scoring three places to No. 7. Colombia, France and Belgium
ond season, a person with with the Los Angeles Lak- last season at 14.2 points completed the top 10, though all fell three places.
knowledge of the deal said ers. He was the fifth player per game and could drop Mexico, fourth at the Confederations Cup, leads
Thursday on condition of to spend at least 20 years in further with Wesley Mat- CONCACAF at No. 16.
anonymity because a deal the NBA. thews going into the third FIFA usually uses the rankings to decide seeding for
hasn’t been announced. Nowitzki doesn’t seem to year of his deal as the start- World Cup draw, scheduled for Dec. 1 in Moscow.q
The agreement is similar have ruled out playing ing shooting guard.
to the one the Mavs and past the coming season. At Dennis Smith, taken ninth
Nowitzki reached last year, the NBA awards show last overall in the draft, and Yogi
although for significantly week, he hinted as much Ferrell are two young point
less money. Last year’s during his acceptance guards who will spend time
contract was for two years speech for the teammate running the pick-and-roll
and $50 million, and the of the year award. with Nowitzki and 23-year-
club declined its option be- Regardless of how much old center Nerlens Noel, a
fore free agency opened longer he plays, Nowitzki’s restricted free agent the
this year. legacy is secure after lead- Mavericks are expected
The 39-year-old Nowitzki is ing the Mavericks to their to keep after trading for
no longer the primary op- only championship in 2011 him at the deadline last
tion for the Mavericks, so a as the NBA Finals MVP. The season.q