NBA News: Dirk Nowitzki Wonders If Retirement Came Too Late

Dirk Nowitzki officially retired from NBA ball in 2019.

There is no question that the German has accomplished a lot--particularly in 2011 when he led the Dallas Mavericks to their first and only NBA title.

The 7-footer spent his entire NBA career with the Mavericks and will go down as one of the greatest NBA players to play the game.

However, his injury history is well documented – something that leaves him with current consequences.

Speaking to German national player Toni Kroos recently, the 14-time All-Star shared how he contemplated retiring two years before he did.

In the interview, Nowitzki pointed out how the final two years of his NBA career showed he could still play but was hardly fulfilling.

“I keep thinking whether the last two years in the NBA were really worth it,” Nowitzki said. “Of course, there were highlights, but we didn’t perform well on the court, and I couldn’t even really move anymore. If I had quit two years earlier, I could probably move better today and play soccer with the kids sometimes. I can’t do all that now.”

It was a startling revelation, but a reality that Nowitzki and other former NBA players sustaining numerous injuries in the careers had to go through.

Nowitzki played his final game for the Mavericks in April 2019 and finished with a double-double performance of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The Mavs lost to the San Antonio Spurs that night, but most saw it as a fitting end to his storied NBA career.