All Dallas Mavericks fans are rejoicing after their team clinched a playoff spot for the first time in four years, but no one is happier than Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki.
Dirk congratulated his former team on Sunday after they made the playoffs following the San Antonio Spurs' win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mavs are back in the playoffs!!! Can’t wait. Let’s go!!!
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) August 3, 2020
For what it's worth, the Rick Carlisle-mentored Mavs still have a shot to break into the Top 4 if they can string some wins in their remaining seven regular-season games.
Dirk Nowitzki was still with the Mavs during their last playoff appearance in 2016, during which they were handed a first-round exit by the Oklahoma City Thunder in just five games.
It is also worth noting that this will be the Mavs' first playoff appearance without the affable German superstar since 1990.
Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year career in Dallas and led the team to its first and only NBA title in 2011. He officially called it a career last season, spending one year with the team's current franchise star Luka Doncic.
The Mavs were expected to enter a rebuilding season shortly after the Nowitzki era came to an end. However, the brilliance of Doncic in just his second year greatly accelerated their supposed rebuild.
The stellar play of Kristaps Porzingis, whose game eerily resembles Dirk's, was also a big factor in Dallas' success this year.
Prior to Sunday's game against the Phoenix Suns, the Mavericks hold a 40-28 slate and are just a few games behind the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder who are tied at fifth and sixth place with a 41-24 record.
We've seen a bunch of retired players like Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce appear as “virtual fans” during bubble games so far, and maybe Nowitzki will follow suit soon — not just a cutout.
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