Nowitzki celebrates 20 seasons in Dallas
Presented key to the city by mayor
Dirk Nowitzki took the court Wednesday night at halftime for a ceremony in which the Mavericks star was presented a key to the city by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.
As for when the 7-foot German’s record 21st season with the same franchise will begin after a longer-than-expected recovery from ankle surgery seven months ago, Nowitzki said the goal is sometime in December.
The 13-time All-Star had surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle just before the end of the 2017-18 season. Nowitzki was on schedule to be ready for the start of this season before a setback led to tendon soreness just before the start of training camp in September.
Nowitzki is set to become the first player to spend all 21 seasons with the same team. Until he makes his debut, he will technically share the record of 20 seasons with Kobe Bryant, who retired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016.
Lakers
LeBron James received a rousing standing ovation during player introductions Wednesday night as he made his first appearance in Cleveland since signing with Los Angeles last summer. James, who spent 11 seasons in two stints with the Cavaliers and led them to the 2016 title, was then saluted with a video tribute during a timeout in the first quarter. As the crowd stood and cheered, “Thank You LeBron” was shown on the giant scoreboard. James pointed to all corners of Quicken Loans Arena in appreciation. The scene was nothing like what James endured upon his return with Miami in 2010, when Cleveland fans turned their anger on him for leaving.
76ers
The Markelle Fultz saga is officially a mess. The reserve point guard is now dealing with a right wrist injury on top of a right shoulder ailment. A report has said that the second-year player would prefer a fresh start with another NBA team. But Raymond Brothers, his agent, denied that his client wants to leave Philadelphia. “I have given no indication to Elton Brand or anyone else that Markelle would prefer to be traded,” Brothers said. “My focus is to get Markelle healthy. End of the story.”
Hornets
Kemba Walker had 16 points and a season-high 11 assists as Charlotte defeated the Indiana Pacers, 127-109. Walker, the NBA’s leading scorer entering the game, had scored 103 points in his previous two games, including 60 against the Philadelphia on Saturday night. But Walker only attempted 10 shots instead taking advantage of double teams to find teammates for open looks.