The Dallas Mavericks have a shining new international duo this upcoming season with reigning Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic and returning Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis at the helm. Unfortunately, Mavs fans won't get the chance to see them play alongside Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who officially retired at the end of the 2018-19 season.

ESPN recently caught up with Dirk and asked him if he ever thought about the possibility of playing with Luka and Kristaps. The 2011 Finals MVP admitted that he would have loved to play with them, but his body just isn't permitting him to have one last go-round next season.

“I know I would love to but just my foot wasn’t great last year. My body just told me it’s just time. I could still probably do it but the foot just said it’s no more.”

Dallas is in the midst of a paradigm shift as it bids goodbye to the 20-year era of Dirk Nowitzki and welcomes a bright new beginning with their Doncic-Porzingis pairing.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
cG9zdDoyODA3Mjc1-thumbnail

Joey Mistretta ·

Derrick Jones Jr., Clippers, Mavericks, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George

Jackson Stone ·

image idea: Celtics' Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown next to Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard with report cards around them (could be in a classroom background). they're all looking happy/hyped

Daniel Donabedian ·

Though he did get to play with Doncic in his final campaign, Nowitzki struggled for the most part of the 2018-19 season. Part of it was due to a foot injury he sustained at the start of the season. Much of it, really, was due to Father Time.

Still, as sad as it was to see the German legend go, Mavs fans are excited to see how Doncic and Porzingis will play alongside each other.

The 7-foot-3 Latvian unicorn is set to make his much-awaited return to the court after he suffered an ACL injury in late January last year. The Slovenian Sensation, on the one hand, is looking to build on his impressive and historic rookie season.