Dirk Nowitzki explains why he doesn't often come to Mavs games: "I just needed a little mental break"
Dirk Nowitzki at the Mavs game
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Widely regarded as the greatest Dallas Mavericks player of all time, Dirk Nowitzki will surely be a die-hard Mavs fan forever. However, if some of you think that “German Jesus” has been flying to Dallas now and then to show his support to his former team, you’re wrong.
Enjoying retirement
Having played for 20 seasons in the league, Nowitzki, who finally called it a career in 2019, admitted that it has been quite an exhausting ride. He said his playing years have been tiring both physically and mentally that he felt the need to have a break. By that, Nowitzki meant not having to do with anything related to basketball.
Recommended Articles
“I think that was always my plan to get away from my mental state and physical,” Nowitzki told The Ben and Skin Show on 97.1 The Eagle [KEGL-FM] in 2020. “I basically spent 25-30 years of my life almost every day in the gym. That’s been a nice part, just to get away some. And not get up early in the morning, go to the gym, work out or think about the next opponent, and just not having that pressure has been really quite enjoyable for me.”
Nowitzki seems to be enjoying doing nothing that even coming to a Mavs game just to watch is not an exception.
“I didn’t want to be all over the Mavs still and go to every game,” he admitted. “I just needed a little mental break, if you want to say. Of course, I still watch them a lot when we’re in town. I still go to, obviously, some games when we’re in town. I do, of course, I follow everybody on Twitter and on Instagram, so I see what’s going on. I still do get that and I still do watch as much as I can when I’m home.”
In time, maybe
Of course, Nowitzki is also well aware that one of the best things about being retired is that you can get to eat whatever and whenever you like. So he has also let himself go as well.
“It’s been a blast. It’s been everything I’ve dreamed of, drinking everything and eating everything in sight on vacation and not really worrying about anything about staying in shape,” Nowitzki told Mavs.com in a separate interview. “I think, like I said, eventually I’m going to find a little routine, I’m going to start working out again and enjoying that. But as of now I literally have zero motivation to go work out.”
Looking back at Dirk’s illustrious career, nobody can judge the way he wants to enjoy his retirement as we can all agree that after copping an NBA title, two MVP honors, 14 All-Star appearances, and a spot in the NBA 75 team, Nowitzki has undoubtedly done it all, and he definitely deserves a little break.
