Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is opening up about some truthful, painful aspects of playing professional basketball.
Some people seem to forget how physical and intense the game is.
The players perform without much protection and are constantly hurling themselves against massive, strong people who are moving with serious speed and energy.
The constant moving, extreme demands, and body-on-body contact all adds up.
Nowitzki knows that better than anyone.
Dirk Nowitzki:
“I keep thinking whether the last two years in the NBA were really worth it.”
“If I had quit two years earlier, I could probably move better today and play soccer with the kids sometimes. I can't do that at all now.”
(via @AlexKennedyNBA) pic.twitter.com/vdomhZWLCn
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 6, 2022
“I keep thinking whether the last two years in the NBA were really worth it,” Nowitzki admitted.
“If I had quit two years earlier, I could probably move better today and play soccer with the kids sometimes. I can’t do that at all now,” he added.
Nowitzki’s truth is one that isn’t addressed often.
An Ailing Legend
Nowitzki gave it his all in the league for 20 seasons and remains one of the most important players in the history of the league.
He’s surely the most prized Mavericks player ever and is still considered a hero in the city of Dallas.
The German big man averaged a powerful 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists throughout his career.
It’s sad to hear that at only 43 years old, Nowitzki is limited in what he can and can’t do physically.
That is a sign of just how much he left it all on the floor – and a sign of how intense the game of basketball truly is.
There is a reason why the NBA is filled with young men, many of them still in their teens.
You simply cannot play at this level of physicality for too long – it all takes a toll.
There is also a reason why the league has focused on conditioning and training so much more over the last few years.
They don’t want to wear out their players so much and will do what they can to keep them healthy in the long run.
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