For NBA players, is big contract important or loyalty important? Maybe everyone's choice is different. Recently, some media posted a picture: In the 2014 offseason, Nowitzki rejected the Lakers and Rockets' 4-year offer of $97 million, followed by $25 million for 3 years to stay in the Mavericks. The two contracts were 72 million apart, but Dirk chose loyalty!
It is precisely because of the lack of loyalty in this business league that players like Nowitzki are precious! In the 2014-15 season, Nowitzki's salary could only rank third on the team, the top two being Chandler Parsons ($15 million annual salary) and Tyson Chandler ($14.5 million)! What is a pattern? That's it!
In 2013-14, Nowitzki averaged 21.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from three-point range. Even if you don't talk about his contribution to Dallas, if you look at the data, Nowitzki is worth a top salary. In the 2014 contract renewal negotiations, Dirk has cut salaries twice in a row, truly one person and one city, which is admirable!
The owner turned over previous reports that on July 4, 2010, Nowitzki and The Mavericks reached a four-year, $80 million contract. At that time, he could get $96 million for 4 years, and Cuban did give him a maximum salary. But Nowitzki himself chose to cut his salary by $16 million, just to help the team make room for salary to recruit free agents.
The following 2010-11 season, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to win the championship, and his choice to cut his salary became an important factor in this victory. Back to the 2014 three-year, $25 million contract, in the summer of 2016, Nowitzki jumped out of the contract. At that time, the team wanted to recruit big-name players, and Dirk was ready to take another pay cut.
Unfortunately, no big-name players came to Dallas, and Cuban decisively gave Dirk a 2-year, $50 million contract: "This is our rest of the money, take it all!" As long as Dirk wants to play, I will sign him even if he reaches the age of 73! In fact, Wade has also cut salaries for the Heat many times, but unfortunately he does not have a good boss like Cuban.
In the summer of 2018, Nowitzki renewed his contract with the Mavericks for $1 million, which was also his last contract in the NBA. In 21 seasons, Dirk surpassed Bryant as the NBA's longest-running player on a single team. Nowitzki's career total salary cuts totaled $200 million! The red line was the salary he could have received: 446 million, and the blue line was the salary he actually received: 251.6 million!
At the award ceremony when Dirk was awarded MVP, Cuban wept bitterly; when Dirk scored the 30,000th point of his career, Cuban danced happily on the sidelines; and when Dirk was ridiculed by the American media, Cuban did not hesitate to send an email to ask the other party to apologize. They are not bosses and players, employers and employees, but iron brothers for more than twenty years!
At Nowitzki's retirement ceremony, Cuban said: "I promise you, we will build you the coolest, the most cattle, the biggest statue in history." I promise you, you'll have a lifetime job! "Just after retiring, Nowitzki didn't want to be in office, and the whole world played. After two years of rest, Cuban repeatedly invited, and Dirk finally decided to return to work.
In June, Dirk became a special advisor to the Mavericks, helping the team find a new president and head coach of basketball operations. Eventually, Nick Harrison became president of Mavericks basketball operations and Kidd became the team's new manager. According to previous reports, Kidd invited Barria and Terry to join the coaching staff, and also invited Chandler to serve as scouts. It's back, that calf is back!
Would anyone say that the Mavericks didn't change their name to The Lone Ranger? When you mention Nowitzki, you can only associate him with the Dallas Mavericks, which have been used to for so many years. Remember that poem? The snake and the wolf retreated to the west, and there was no old driver in the rivers and lakes. Thirty-five seconds forever legendary, demigod landing lightning extinguished.