Dallas Mavericks Star Dirk Nowitzki Opts Out Of Contract

Dallas, TX — Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki opted out of his contract Tuesday and will become an unrestricted free agent July 1, according to several media reports.

ESPN reported that Nowitzki formally notified the ballclub of his intentions to become a free agent. He had faced a Wednesday deadline to either become a free agent or lock himself into an $8.7 million option for next season.

The Mavs acquired Nowitzki in the 1998 draft, making him the centerpiece of a developing team that went on to win the NBA Finals in 2011. Now 38, Nowitzki has spent his entire 18-year NBA career playing for Dallas, logging some impressive feats for the Mavs as outlined by ESPN: The 2011 Finals MVP trophy; 13 All-Star selections; sixth place on the league's all-time scoring list with 29,491 career points.

Nowitzki also is poised to surpass Wilt Chamberlain in moving into the scoring list's top five, likely during the 2017-18 season, barring injury. In opting out of his contract, Nowitzki exits the final season of his three-year, $25 million contract, "...which represented a steep hometown discount to provide the Mavs the salary-cap flexibility to construct a contender during Nowitzki's twilight years," ESPN noted.

The Mavericks have not been able to replicate the magic of their 2011 season, failing to get past the first round of the playoffs since. Even short of another championship, the 7-foot German-born athlete led the team in scoring again this past season.

Read the full story at ESPN >>

>>> Photo via Dallas Mavericks homepage