Mavericks franchise player worked hard in the offseason to be physically ready for the gruesome NBA season that is about to commence.
Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best power forwards to play in the NBA in recent times, and proved that statement right during the 2010-2011 NBA season in which he led the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA championship, defeating the heavy
favourites Miami Heat in the Finals.
That season was followed by an NBA lockout and although Nowitzki and the Mavs got some much needed rest as well as plenty of time to celebrate their victory, their offseason training as well as training camp was put on hold and
the uncertainty surrounding the next regular season made it difficult to plan any offseason activities.
The season did commence in late December, but Nowitzki came into the season relatively unprepared, as he was unable to go through his usual routines to get his body and mind where it needed to be.
The German giant is now reaching the end of his illustrious career in the NBA, and although he is still as dominant and dangerous, he needs to put in some effort to be physically fit and prepared for the gruesome and tough nature
of the regular season. Add to that the fact that Nowitzki suffered from an injury to his right knee during the season, and he did not see the same Dirk that dominated the league during the 2010-2011 season.
However, Nowitzki made it a point to get back on track during this offseason and says that he has had a good routine leading up to training camp and is now looking forward to returning to his old self this coming season.
“I tried to keep in shape all summer long so that it would not be hard to pick up my usual training routine. I feel great. My knees feel fine, and that’s important. I am ready to go,” said Nowitzki in an e-mail interview to the
Dallas Mavericks blog.
This is certainly a good news for the Mavericks team, which is embarking on the new season with a revamped roster as compared to the past few seasons.
The Mavericks lost Jason Kidd and Jason Terry during the offseason, and added O.J. Mayo, Elton Brand and Chris Kaman to the team instead. They will now have a front court heavy roster for next season, essentially changing their
game plan and strategy. In such a situation where the team is going through a monumental shift, it will be good to have Dirk firing on all cylinders so that he can use his experience to lead the team into the new era.
The Mavericks are the underdogs this upcoming season, but have the talent to turn a few heads in the Western Conference. With Nowitzki healthy and in good spirits, they are in a position to make the upcoming season a successful
outing.
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