DALLAS – He didn’t make it officially official, but Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle noted that forward Dirk Nowitzki “will likely come off the bench” this season.
During Media Day on Friday, Carlisle acknowledged that he and Nowitzki have discussed the move, and that Nowitzki is in agreement with it. With Nowitzki 40 years old and his best years behind him, Carlisle and Nowitzki knew this day would eventually arrive.
Thus, the Mavs will likely have an opening-day roster that includes Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews, Luka Doncic and DeAndre Jordan.
“We have to move the franchise forward the right way,” Carlisle said. “Dennis and Matthews and Harrison and Luka and DeAndre, right now, look to me like the best team to start games.
“We need Wes out there guarding the best wing player, the best perimeter player. We need DeAndre in there to be our center. The other pieces fall into place.”
For Nowitzki, being a reserve player comes with its challenges. Particularly since he’ll do pre-game warmups, then go sit on the bench and then be asked to come into the game and produce all while trying to keep his body warm before he enters the game for the first time.
“If that’s the case and I’m coming off the bench, we better keep a bike ready and a few massage therapists in the back and I’ll be good to go,” Nowitzki said. “It’s going to be a little different, but I’m 40 years old.
“I think I can adjust to pretty much anything with my experience.”
Carlisle actually said talk of having Nowitzki come off the bench is nothing new. That’s especially true since he had left ankle surgery on Apr. 5 and missed the final four games of last season.
“He’s actually been talking about it for some time, and this will be extremely challenging for him,” Carlisle said. “At this age and at this point in time, coming off this more recent surgery. . .
“He’s doing well with his rehab and recovery, but he will likely be limited somewhat in training camp. The hope is that things will continue to trend in the right direction with his rehab and recovery and that he can play in China, and that he’ll be able to play in the first game (preseason game on Sept. 29) against the Beijing Ducks.”
Nowitzki’s recovery apparent recently hit a bump.
“I had a little minor setback last week,” he said. “I played a little bit and now my tendons are a little sore in my ankle.
“So I actually haven’t done much since the start of last week, but hopefully I’ll be working my way back into playing again soon. But I think it’s a process.”
When the Mavs signed center DeAndre Jordan to a one-year free agent contract in July, Nowitzki knew his days as a starter could possibly be over.
“I’ve spent most of my time playing (center) the last couple of years because of movement issues, we called it,” Nowitzki said, while laughing. “As we know the (power forwards) in this league are all quick, mobile and can all shoot, so I’ve spent most of my time playing (center).
“And when we signed DeAndre it was pretty much clear in my head that I’m going to come off the bench. But as we have one of the best coaching staffs in the league, they’re going to look at a million different things, what every lineup needs, what lineup works together, and it’s all about winning at the end of the day, whatever puts us in the best position to win is what we’re going to roll with. And coach Carlisle obviously has shown that over his time here. He’s willing to try anything.”
Nowitzki will be entering his 21st year this season and has spent the overwhelming majority of those years as the Mavs’ primary go-to person. But now he’s going to have to morph into a new role.
“He’s 40 years old,” Carlisle said. “For 20 years he’s started, he’s been a starter.
“We’re going to have to really work on the best way to get him prepared to go in games if this is going to be the way that we go. That’s going to be constant dialogue. We’re going to be in a lot of communication about it. His teammates will obviously be a big part of it.”
Especially last year, Barnes has taken ownership of being the Mavs’ No. 1 go-to player. Carlisle even ran plays for him that were identical to the plays he consistently ran for Nowitzki.
“Harrison’s been our best player the last two years and we’re going to rely on him more,” Carlisle said. “Luka is going to be a guy that’s going to help our team.
“Even though he’s 19, he has great experience, and he’s shown that he’s a guy who’s going to be a chemistry-giver to our team. I expect Dennis to really elevate his game coming off a great summer and all the experience that he got last year.”
In essence, no one in the Mavs’ organization wanted to see the day when they had to ask the franchise’s all-time leading scorer to come off the bench. But that day has apparently arrived.
“When you come off the bench you usually don’t have the luxury of easing into the game,” Nowitzki said. “You’ve got to be on right away, which was never really my thing.
“I was always kind of a slow starter. But I’ll have an extra coffee or something and come out firing.”
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