Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki to miss start of regular season

Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki updated fans on his injury, and the news is worse than expected.  He likely misses regular season action.

The Dallas Mavericks are facing a year of transition for their long-time star player.  Dirk Nowitzki is entering his 21st season in a Mavs uniform, but for the first time since his rookie season is not expected to start.

Dirk coming off the bench will be odd.  He played a lot with the bench unit last season, and his minutes have slowly decreased over the last three seasons.  The strange part will be Nowitzki not being announced at the beginning of games.  Him not playing at the tipoff.  It will be a transition for both Dirk and the fans.

News for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer got a bit worse on Oct. 2.

Dirk out longer than expected

Dirk Nowitzki had ankle surgery in April and fans knew he was not practicing yet.  That story got a whole lot bigger on Tuesday.  Below is a Tweet from Eddie Sefko detailing the latest developments.

That says weeks meaning more than one, and the regular season begins in two weeks.  Dirk missing regular season games was becoming apparent the longer he did not practice, but now we have some official clarity.  Nowitzki looks set to be on the sidelines for a while.  Sadly, he may miss weeks of regular season action.  Expect plenty of updates as more information becomes available.

Impact on the team

Being without a player the caliber of Dirk Nowitzki is never ideal.  Dirk may be 40, but he shot over 40 percent from 3-point range last season.  The Mavericks bench unit is going to miss his scoring, shooting, and rebounding abilities.  Nowitzki spaces the floor and opens up a lot of shots for his teammates on the court still.

The Mavs have some depth in the frontcourt to cover until Dirk returns.  Expect to see a few more minutes from Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber.  Two guys who are capable replacements.  Dallas could also use Ray Spalding or Salah Mejri.  Those minutes will be won during training camp and in the final three preseason games.

Final thoughts

Dallas Mavericks and NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki is going to miss the start of the regular season as he recovers from ankle surgery.  The news is beyond disappointing.  It is made worse when considering this could be Dirk’s final season.  Fans do not want to miss out on any chances to see the GOAT, but they will at the beginning of the regular season.

We are all wishing Dirk a speedy recovery.  It will not be the same without Dirk in uniform and playing on opening night.  The Mavericks will usher in the Luka Doncic era without Nowitzki on the court.  Hopefully, Dirk only misses a few games and returns for a healthy season.  Stay tuned.

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