Dirk Nowitzki will head into his NBA-record 21st straight season with the Dallas Mavericks, and while his career has certainly made him a legend in town, his reputation won't keep him from taking a step back. The German international would even be open to the possibility of coming off the bench, especially with the Mavs having acquired a legitimate center in DeAndre Jordan and potentially lining up Harrison Barnes as a small four-man.
“Obviously, DeAndre's going to be our starter at the five position and the rest will just kind of fall in place after that,” Nowitzki said, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. “If [Barnes] goes back to the four or we start other ways, I have no idea as of yet. But it's a great problem to have. We want to be a franchise that is back in the playoffs and plays well and has fun again.”
Nowitzki's playing time has dwindled with age, but that didn't make owner Mark Cuban or anyone in the front office hesitant to sign him to a one-year, $5 million deal this summer. Regardless, the 7-footer has no issues with coming off the bench.
“I've always said the last few years, if it makes our team better — I want to be part of a winning team and if that's what helps us win — then of course,” Nowitzki said of the possibility of coming off the bench this season. “I have no problem with that. I already told [the training staff] if that's the case, they better keep me loose. We better get a [stationary] bike ready somewhere because if I warm up and sit for 15, 20 minutes, that's going to be an issue.”
Dirk's flexibility certainly makes things easier for coach Rick Carlisle and his staff, knowing they can shuffle the pieces around to put up the best product out there before the start of the regular season.
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