In 21 decorated seasons in the NBA, Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki pretty much achieved everything he could on the basketball court. The Mavs icon, however, recently admitted that he holds one Michael Jordan regret to this very day.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Dan Patrick show, Dirk shared one of his earliest memories with MJ on the basketball court. Well, it wasn't actually on the hardcourt. This was because MJ retired right before Nowitzki entered the NBA. Understandably, this continues to be one of Dirk's biggest regrets of his career:

“MJ retired with the shot Game 6 in Utah,” Nowitzki said, via Adam Taylor of spotskeeda. “I was drafted that summer, and then we had the lockout, and I'm thinking I'm about to play against my hero, against my idol.

“And then he retired, and I'm like, ‘Oh, no, I've just missed my hero by a few months.' So he didn't come back for the lockout year in '99, so I didn't get a chance to play against him.”

As Dirk explained, he was drafted as the ninth overall pick in 1998. Nowitzki was actually drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks but was quickly traded to the Mavs on draft day in exchange for Robert Taylor. This was just weeks after Jordan hit that unforgettable game-winner in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. However, after clinching his sixth and what turned out to be his last title with the Chicago Bulls, MJ decided to retire for a second time.

Jordan came out of retirement again in 2001 to play for the Washington Wizards. Finally, Dirk got a chance to play with his idol:

“Then he came back with the Wizards a few years later, and, of course, he was a little up there in age, but it was still amazing,” Nowitzki said. “I mean, he guarded me a couple of possessions on the post, and I tried to post him up, and I was excited. I remember just shooting a brutal fadeaway.

“I don't think I even made it, but I was just so hyped to play against MJ and be on the same court as my idol.”

As Nowitzki said, however, MJ was no longer in his prime when he returned for the Wizards. Jordan was coming off three years out of the NBA when he came back for a second time. What Dirk seems to be saying here is that he regrets not being able to play against Jordan during the GOAT's peak. Nevertheless, the Mavs icon remains grateful for having had the opportunity to play against Jordan, albeit the Wizards version of His Airness.