The Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki are reportedly nearing an agreement on a two-year deal worth $10 million that could bring the perennial All-Star back past his 20th season in the NBA. The contract is a massive pay cut for Nowitzki, who earned $25 million last season alone.
Dirk Nowitzki will reportedly take a massive pay cut to re-sign with Mavericks
Nowitzki will sign a two-year deal worth $10 million. He made $25 million last season alone.
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Nowitzki signed a two-year, $50 million contract last summer, but exercised his player option to become a free agent during the offseason. He did so with the intent of taking less money to allow the Mavericks to pursue free agents and build toward a future contender.
The 39-year-old Nowitzki is regarded as one of the greatest international NBA players of all-time, winning the 2007 NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year award before leading the Mavericks to the franchise’s first-ever championship in 2011. He’s averaged almost 22 points per game through his illustrious 19-year NBA career, highlighted by his outstanding 2007 MVP season where he averaged 24.6 points on better than 50 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent shooting from three and 90 percent shooting from the foul line.
Nowitzki isn’t the first star to leave money on the table this offseason. Kevin Durant agreed to take $7 million less than his $31.8 million max salary when he signed a two-year, $53 million contract to stay with the Warriors this summer. The selfless act allowed Golden State to re-sign Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala and Stephen Curry — to a $201 million contract, by the way — and sign Nick Young with their mid-level exception without being saddled in luxury tax this upcoming season.
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