The career of a professional athlete is one filled with trials and tribulations. No matter if you're the last guy on a roster or the face of the franchise, the end of your career usually is the result of years of strenuous wear-and-tear on your body. Even for Dallas Mavericks Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, it is no different, and like many other former players, Nowitzki now feels the wear and tear of a professional athlete's career post-retirement.

Nowitzki revealed earlier this season that the 2011 NBA Finals MVP believes that he probably should have retired from playing professional basketball following the end of the 2016-2017 season instead of continuing to play for an extra two seasons as the Mavericks transitioned to the Luka Doncic era.

Nowitzki also revealed that since his retirement three years ago, the 14-time All-Star has had issues walking and with a lot of movement-related activities in general, including playing soccer with his children.

Nowitzki went on in the interview with BasketballNews' CEO Alex Kennedy to lament his decision to continue playing since the Mavericks were not trying to contend during his last two seasons, proving his endeavor to prolong his retirement to be ultimately pointless.

Nowitzki struggled to stay on the court in his final season due to injuries, resulting in the power forward playing in just 51 games, and putting up averages of seven points and three rebounds per game on 41/31/78 shooting splits.