Dirk Nowitzki is the face of the Mavericks.
Through good times and bad.
And by his reckoning, being there through the storms _ and the rebuilding this season was definitely rough _ is every bit as important as when the sun shines brightly.
"Hey, if you're going with a team like I have so long, if that's what it takes, I guess that's what it takes," Nowitzki said Thursday after an injury-marred 33-49 season. "I made that decision last summer when I signed on. I obviously knew it was a possibility.
"At the end of the day, I just can't imagine myself in a different uniform. So that's why I made that decision. If were rebuilding, then I'm the face of that. If we're a championship, then I'm here for that. I just identified myself with the organization for so long, with the fan base, with the city, that no matter what the team or the franchise is going through, I'm right there to push it through.
"We'll just wait and see what team we have next year. But I'm here obviously to help in any way I can and whatever situation we're going to be in next year."
Yes, Nowitzki will play a 20th season for the Mavericks. That much has been known for quite some time.
And as players cleaned out their lockers and had their exit interviews with the coaching and management staff, it was Nowitzki who had his finger on the pulse of the organization.
"It's no secret," he said. "We got to get better, better in all phases. The young guys got to get better, the old guys got to stay healthy and work on some stuff. We'll see what the draft brings, see what free agency brings. I'm sure Mark (Cuban) and Donnie (Nelson) are going to look to make this franchise competitive again."
And Nowitzki will be involved in the structure of the roster for the 2017-18 season. He said if it takes him being in the draft room or recruiting in free agency, he'll be there to do it.
He's looking forward to teaming with Harrison Barnes as the faces of the franchise.
But he knows the future is cloudy, at best.
"As we know, we have no idea who's going to be back next year," Nowitzki said. "We have some guys under contract, but after a season like this, anything's possible. We have a high draft pick which we haven't had in forever. So yeah, there's going to be some changes probably.
"It's an important summer for this franchise, for sure, to head back in the right direction, if you want to say, starting with the draft. Whatever the pick may be, there's a guy to be had who can be a really good player in the future. And then free agency is important, too. We'll see what we can get moving forward. So, yeah, this is a big summer, but we tend to stand here the last few years and always say it's a big summer for the franchise. But I know Donnie and Mark are going to do everything in their power to make this a winning, and competitive, franchise."
