Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during play against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center on March 3, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP
Dirk Nowitzki certainly knows a thing or two about loyalty.
Although the German-born superstar has received a lot of enticing offers whenever he hits free agency, the 39-year-old forward has often made compromises to stay with the only team he has ever known, the Dallas Mavericks.
Now entering his 20th NBA season with the team, the one-time NBA MVP acknowledged that loyalty is a rare trait to have in the league these days.
“The new NBA is a little different. It’s about making money and winning and not as much about being loyal anymore,” he said during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio and relayed by The Score.
Nowitzki recently inked a $10-million contract over the summer—which is a relatively modest contract for someone of his stature. Although he has gotten up in age, the 13-time All-Star remains as one of the best stretch forwards around.
Having accumulated around $245 million since entering the league in 1998, Dirk has willingly taken pay cuts in order to sign other talents and help improve the Mavs roster.
He also credits his decision to stay with the franchise to other factors aside basketball, particularly his tight relationship with team owner Mark Cuban and the loyal Dallas fan base.
“I think I’m old school,” Dirk, who led Dallas to an NBA title in 2011, said. “Some of these guys that are now stars are obviously younger. The business has changed a bit. You know, I never knew what to expect when I came to Dallas, but everything just came together here. The way, when I got here, that the community embraced me and wanted me to succeed.”
He added: “Cuban buying the team at the end of my second year was a huge part of why I was here my entire career. He was a huge supporter of mine. He’s a friend of mine and he’s always supported me throughout my career. So I was here, I belong to this community, and for me, it was always easy for me to be loyal.” /ra