NBA: Nowitzki: “Expect me to be fit”

Dirk Nowitzki continues to work diligently in Dallas on his rehabilitation after ankle surgery. In an interview with FORTYONE magazine, the Mavericks star has now informed us about the state of affairs.

Rehabilitation after the operation is going well, but there is still a long way to go before I am fit to play again,” the 40-year-old made clear. “I now have almost all of August and almost all of September before the camp starts. I’m gonna need those six, seven more weeks.”

But Nowitzki definitely wants to be available for the start of the season on 17 October: “I expect to be fit when the season starts”. Then, after the disappointing pre-season with only 24 victories, it’s a matter of setting a better playing time again. The bad start broke a lot last season, Nowitzki explained.

Meanwhile Nowitzki takes a positive view of the team’s new commitments, especially DeAndre Jordan and Luka Doncic: “DeAndre is a very, very good centre that will help us insanely in defence and rebound. In Carlisle’s system there is a fiver that can roll, indeed an important position,” Nowitzki said.

He is also very excited about Doncic, whom Dallas was able to win in a draft-day trade for Trae Young and a future pick from Atlanta. “He has very high expectations of himself. I hope he can withstand them. I’ll try to help him as much as I can, of course. I will try to pass on my experiences to him,” said Nowitzki, who also said: “Compared to last year, we have definitely improved.

Nowitzki will play his 21st season with the Mavericks, so many seasons with a franchise nobody has ever played in the NBA. “It’s amazing that I’ve been playing NBA basketball at a reasonably good level in this town for 21 years,” Nowitzki said. “That makes me proud and happy. But in the end, that’s what counts, playing another great season next year.”