Dirk Nowitzki will head into his 21st season with the Dallas Mavs without having lost an ounce of humor. New teammate DeAndre Jordan found that out very soon into this stint with his new team, as the German international jokingly threatened to take his spot in the starting five.
“Obviously, the last couple years, I've played more at the [center position],” said the 40-year-old Nowitzki, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. “Jokingly, I told DeAndre that, the way the foot is healing, you're going to have to fight for your starting spot. I texted him that two, three weeks ago. He was just laughing.”
In reality, Nowitzki couldn't be any further from a threat, recently even considering coming off the bench, if that's what it takes to make the team successful.
Jordan is etched into his spot as a starter, especially when ownership decided to match the last year of his $24 million deal with the L.A. Clippers in order to bring him into the fold.
Nowitzki's natural power forward spot could be occupied by Harrison Barnes, especially if coach Rick Carlisle prefers to play a relatively small lineup, putting the 6-foot-8 North Carolina stuff next to Jordan as a stretch-four.
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