Pull out a celebratory German lager because we may not be seeing the last of hardwood legend Dirk Nowitzki just yet.
On Friday, Nowitzki expressed his intention to pick up his player option for next season, saying, “I’ve always wanted to play those three years to the end,” per Tim McMahon of ESPN.
Dirk says he plans to pick up the player option in his contract for next season. "I always said I wanted to play those 3 years to the end."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 25, 2016
Despite being 37 years old now, the Mavs big man is still kicking. With averages on 18.8 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game on still-efficient 46/39/89 shooting this season, Nowitzki had helped lead an old, injury-prone Dallas roster to the precipice of playoff contention in the West (though that much might be in serious jeopardy with the recent news of forward Chandler Parsons’ season-ending knee surgery).
The 13-time NBA All-Star has been resolute in his desire to play out the remainder of his contract, and as Decision Day looms nearer, Nowitzki’s mind appears to be made up.
Nowitzki’s player option is worth approximately $8.7 million for next year, and it should be well worth the price of admission to see one of the NBA’s all-time great big men lace ’em up for a 19th consecutive season in Dallas.
H/T NBA Reddit
