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SPORTS Wednesday 7 February 2018

Nowitzki cherishes 20 seasons, content to help Mavs rebuild

By SCHUYLER DIXON shooting, the first foreign-
DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowit- born player to reach 30,000
zki made peace years points and the distinction
ago with the reality that with Kobe Bryant (Lak-
spending his entire career ers) as the only players to
with the Dallas Mavericks spend 20 seasons with the
would likely mean little or same franchise.
no chance to win a second "I think the reality is that
championship. when you see this kind of
The most accomplished consistency of greatness,
European player in NBA there's a tendency to take
history never seriously con- it for granted," said Rick
sidered leaving the fran- Carlisle, in his 10th season
chise that courted him as a as Nowitzki's coach. "And
teenager in Germany and we must be careful about
drafted him five days after taking this for granted.
his 20th birthday in 1998. We're seeing a generation-
Now in his 20th season, al player that's changed
Nowitzki is comfortable the game."
with the idea that he led Nowitzki still starts — Carlisle
the Mavericks to their first pretty much declared ear-
title and can try to help a lier this season that he will In this May 15, 2007, file photo, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, of Germany, looks at the
younger core build toward start as long as he's play- Maurice Podoloff Trophy during a news conference in Dallas, where he was awarded the NBA's
making Dallas a title con- ing — but often sits at the Most Valuable Player for the 2006-07 seasons.
tender again. end of close games. He's
"I just think I pride myself probably the fourth scor- how many more years he J.J. Barea spent his first five getting some timely scoring
with this city, with this or- ing option, behind Harrison has. He probably has may- seasons with the Mavericks here and there.”
ganization, whatever this Barnes, Wesley Matthews be six or seven more left in and was still a relatively Always big on self-depre-
city or this franchise goes and even rookie point him," Brooks said, trying to young guard at 26 when cation, Nowitzki quips that
through, I want to push it guard Dennis Smith Jr. keep a straight face. the Mavericks won the title. he can’t help the younger
through," Nowitzki said. "I But the 39-year-old played Nowitzki has already said “I used him a lot,” said Bar- players by showing them
want to be there for it. If it's the first 54 games, an im- he is considering a 21st sea- ea, who returned to Dallas any moves. He doesn’t
rebuilding, I want to push it portant measure for him son. Barring a dramatic im- three years ago. “If I work have to be joking to ac-
through and help as much to feel he's contributing. provement through a trade, half of what he does, I’m knowledge that his patent-
as I can. If we're playing for Nowitzki, the only 7-footer the draft or free agency, going to be all right. These ed one-legged fadeaway
a championship, then I'll do to win the 3-point contest that likely means another guys, they really didn’t get jumper isn’t nearly as dan-
that." that's part of All-Star week- year of helping turn Smith him at his best like I got him. gerous as it was when he
The Mavericks haven't won end, is in position for the into a point guard that can But they still see how hard was Finals MVP.
a playoff series since beat- best shooting percentage guide a champion the way you’ve got to work to be What Nowitzki can offer is
ing Miami in the Finals in of his career from beyond Nowitzki credits Jason Kidd able to play out there with work ethic and experience,
2011, LeBron James' first the arc. The number of at- for doing in Dallas. us.” not to mention longevity.
season with the Heat. They tempts isn't far off from his Assuming the Mavericks Nowitzki doesn’t mind ad- He became the sixth NBA
had a woeful start for the prime either. stay near the bottom of the mitting that practice isn’t player to reach 50,000 min-
second straight year, all "I wish he can play forever," West standings, they'll have quite as fun as it used to be. utes Tuesday night at the
but assuring that they will said Washington coach another high draft pick af- “But once the ball goes up, Los Angeles Clippers. “It’s
miss the playoffs with con- Scott Brooks, who was at ter getting Smith at No. 9. it’s still great,” said the 2007 been two decades of fun
secutive losing seasons for Oklahoma City when the That will be another young MVP, who has career av- and competing,” Nowitzki
the first time since Nowitzki's Thunder lost to the Mav- player who sees the work erages of 21.4 points and said. “Getting to 20 years
first two. ericks in the 2011 Western Nowitzki does away from 7.7 rebounds. “I still love to is special. There’s not a lot
The slide out of contention Conference finals and the court to stay in shape, compete. I still love to be of guys that have done it.
means little to the con- beat them in the first round and a 13-time All-Star who out there for the guys and Not a lot of guys have done
text of Nowitzki's career: the next year. is frequently the last player trying to help them with my it with one franchise. I’m
a 7-footer who changed "You know the time is wind- to quit shooting after prac- experience and spread the proud of that, but want to
the game with his 3-point ing down, you don't know tice. floor for them and maybe finish the season strong.” q