Dallas Mavericks general manger Donnie Nelson is thankful Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki spent his entire career in Dallas and never went ring chasing.
Since the Mavs won the 2011 championship over the Miami Heat, the franchise hasn't been past the first round of the playoffs. Dallas has missed the postseason four times since that title.
However, Nowitzki never wanted to leave Dallas and stayed loyal to Nelson and the Mavs.
“Dirk a number of times could have gone a different direction and said, ‘Hey listen, let me go finish up with Golden State.' Look, he's gotten calls from all the big boys,” Nelson told James Herbert of CBS Sports.
“I mean, anyone that's been in the Finals run — L.A., Miami, he gets calls from all of those guys. Recruiting calls from some of the best players that have ever played the game: ‘Hey, come on and join us. We're assured that we'll get to the Finals. We got a shot to get you another ring.' Dirk has turned down all of those sirens to stick it out here in Dallas. That's, beyond words, appreciated.”
Nowitzki broke Kobe Bryant's record for the most seasons a player has spent with one team. This season is Dirk's 21st season with the Mavs.
No one knows if Nowitzki is going to retire after this season or come back for one more ride. Mavs fans are hoping he returns.
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