Dirk Nowitzki is still sidelined after he was out in the game against Portland Trail Blazers due to achiles problem. He already missed two games already, but Harrison Barnes stepped up in his absence.
Nowitzki was out on the Friday Nov. 4 game at American Airline Center, Dallas after he injured his achiles. He started to workout this Thursday as reported by ESPN , but he admitted that he still needs time to come back to full-speed practice session.
"It's definitely better, but I really haven't done much yet, Today was good, but we didn't go anything close to full speed,” Nowitzki said. “Just started moving on the court a bit.”
During Nowitzki’s absence, Barnes stepped up in two games against the Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Barnes made 31 points in the 109-97 win against Los Angeles Lakers, and tallied 25 points in the 116-95 loss against his old team the Warriors.
Barnes has been a good choice for the Mavericks to replace Nowitzki in power forward position, which is now closer to retirement according to Washington Post. Currently he averaged 22.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in his first season with the Mavericks.
For Nowitzki, this season is his 19th year with the Mavericks. He joined Mavericks in 1998 when Milwaukee Bucks traded him right after drafted in the 1998 NBA Draft. He is known for his consistency and tenacity in court, and considered as one of the best power forward in the NBA history.
The 7’0” forward led Dallas Mavericks to their first and only NBA Championship in 2011, defeating Miami Heat which has already powered by the Big-Three Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. He also led Dallas to two Western Conference title in 2006 and 2011.
Dallas Mavericks will come to Madison Square Garden in a game against New York Knicks on Monday Nov. 14.
Watch Nowitzki’s Top 10 play last season compiled by the NBA below: