Former Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
Dirk Nowitzki was honored on Wednesday night at the Mavericks game but head coach Jason Kidd was ready to get him back on the court.
It was fitting that the Dallas Mavericks picked up an upset victory at home over the Warriors on Wednesday night. After all, it was Dirk Nowitzki that led the franchise to the pinnacle of the NBA, so it felt right that they knock off one of the league’s best on the night that they honored the future Hall-of-Famer.
However, while the German legend was soaking in the postgame ceremonies from the Mavs, the team’s head coach — and Nowitzki’s former teammate in Dallas — Jason Kidd had some other plans.
While delivering a speech as part of the tribute to Dirk, Kidd joked that the team was handing out 10-day contracts before asking Nowitzki if he wanted one to come back and suit up for the Mavericks one last time.
Jason Kidd offers Dirk Nowitzki 10-day contract with Mavs
Nowitzki laughed before quite fervently shaking off the notion and turning down the proverbial 10-day offer.
Of course, you have to wonder if there was some part of Kidd that was hoping Dirk would accept the offer. Despite beating Golden State, the Mavericks are without five players — Kristaps Porzingis included — due to the league’s health and safety protocols that have taken numerous players on all teams out of action.
Alas, there will be no return for Nowitzki. But it was great to see him get the moment he deserved from Dallas.