Dirk Nowitzki was thinking to retire after the 2016-17 season ends. Although he intended to wrap up his career as the contract end, but his body hasn’t responded to his will as he often got injured.
He said his retirement plan in an interview with German magazine Sport Bild as reported by Yahoo Sports. Nowitzki realizes that his 19 years career in the NBA will be over sooner than his original plan.
"Actually, my plan is to complete the 20 years and play for Dallas until 2018,” Nowitzki said. “But just because I have signed a two-year contract doesn't automatically mean that I will play for two years. It could happen next year."
In his fruitful NBA career, the 38-year old is a 13-time NBA All-Star and has brought the NBA championship for the Mavericks in 2011. One of the reason that will make him retire sooner is that his physical condition is not as good as when he was younger. He is currently fighting his recurring Achiless tendon problem and he has been sidelined since Nov. 25 when Dallas Mavericks was defeated by the host Cleveland Cavaliers 90-128.
According to CBS Sports, his desires to play will determine whether he will be able to play untul 2018. As great players ability to keep playing will be twarted when their driving force to work slowly diminished. Nowitzki understands the difficulties he has to deal with as his body is aging.
Nowitzki has been playin with the Mavericks since 1998 when he was drafted by Dallas Mavericks in sixth overall. During his 18 years with the Mavericks he averages 22.0 points with with 7.9 rebounds per game. He has a strong outside shooting percentage with 47.4 percent field goals and 38.1 oercent from behind the arc.
Watch earlier statement from Nowitzki eight monts ago in a press conference on April 25, 2016, when he said that he is not retiring below:
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