Nowitzki to make history with 21st season in Dallas

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Dirk Nowitzki has signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks to return for an NBA-record 21st season with one team.

The Mavericks didn’t release terms of the deal, but Marc Stein of The New York Times said the contract is worth 5 million US dollars.

Nowitzki, 40, was drafted No. 9 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998, then shipped to Dallas in a draft-night trade. He will pass Kobe Bryant, who played 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, for longevity with one franchise.

He has played 1,471 career games with the Mavericks, averaging 21.2 points and 7.7 rebounds a game. Last season, in 77 games, he scored 12.0 points and averaged 5.7 rebounds. This season, he is expected to help mentor fellow European Luka Doncic, who has been billed as the next Nowitzki.

Dirk Nowitzki will set an NBA record in 2018-19 by appearing in his 21st season with Dallas. /VCG Photo

In Dallas, Nowitzki led the team to the NBA title in 2011. He was the league most valuable player in the 2006-07 season and is a 12-time All-NBA selection.

He enters the season sixth on the all-time NBA scoring list with 31,187 points. He needs 233 points to pass Wilt Chamberlain for fifth-place on the list.

Here is a closer look at other players who spent their entire career with one team:

Kobe Bryant, 20 seasons, Los Angeles Lakers

Tim Duncan, 19 seasons, San Antonio Spurs

John Stockton, 19 seasons, Utah Jazz

Reggie Miller, 18 seasons, Indiana Pacers

Manu Ginobili, 16 seasons, San Antonio Spurs

John Havlicek, 16 seasons, Boston Celtics

Udonis Haslem, 15 seasons, Miami Heat

Dolph Schayes, 15 seasons, Philadelphia 76ers

Hal Greer, 15 seasons, Philadelphia 76ers

(With input from agencies)