Dirk Nowitzki will not make a decision on whether to play abroad during the NBA lockout until after EuroBasket 2011 in September, the Dallas Mavericks' star forward told ESPN's Marc Stein. Nowitzki, who was named the NBA Finals MVP in June after leading the Mavs to their first-ever title, will play for Germany at FIBA's European championship, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics.
Dirk Nowitzki To Make Decision On Playing Abroad During NBA Lockout After EuroBasket
Spending the week in Berlin to combine a commercial shoot with private training sessions with longtime mentor Holger Geschwindner, Nowitzki said: “I’m going to play the Euros and then see where the lockout is after that. Until then, I’m not going to look at playing anywhere else.”
A report from Chinese basketball blog NiuBBall.com this week reported that a Chinese Basketball Association team had offered Nowitzki up to $1.5 million a month to play there during the lockout. Nowitzki is a Nike endorser; Nike has reportedly urged its player to consider China during the lockout for marketing purposes.
Nowitzki did tell Stein that if it appears the lockout will wear on, he will play overseas.
“I’ve always said I’m too old to sit around for a whole year,” Nowitzki said. He turned 33 a week after the Mavs’ title-clinching Game 6 win in Miami. “I still can’t see this being a long lockout, but if it is I’m going to find somewhere to play.”
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