Dirk Nowitzki is not retiring from the NBA and will almost certainly spend a 19th season with the Mavericks.
The 7-foot German even says he might have to "unretire" from his national team if uncertainty with European basketball leads to a pre-Olympic Games tournament ending up in Nowitzki's home country this summer.
The 37-year-old Dallas star again led the Mavericks in scoring this campaign, a season after someone trumped him for the first time in 15 years.
"Felt great this year," said Nowitzki, who turns 38 in June and has a player option for the final season of a three-year deal. "Feel like I can still play efficient enough to be there for the team."
Nowitzki said on Wednesday AEST it was "pretty much" crazy talk for coach Rick Carlisle to suggest after a first-round elimination in Oklahoma City that Nowitzki might consider playing elsewhere.
And even though the Mavericks haven't won a playoff series since winning the franchise's only title in 2011, Nowitzki believes owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson can return the team to championship contention while he's still around.
"The only way I would ever leave is if we're rebuilding and start with five rookies," Nowitzki said. "As long as we go for it and compete, then I'll be a Mav."
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