Dirk: 'I think I’m still about a couple weeks out'
Earl K. Sneed reports from the Dallas Mavericks' Tuesday practice, where Dirk Nowitzki addressed the media for just the second time since arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 19.
Practice report (11/20/12)
Dirk: 'I think I’m still about a couple weeks out'
DALLAS — Inching at the bit and not so patiently awaiting his own return to the court, 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki addressed the media Tuesday for just the second time since his arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 19.
Originally forecasted as a six-week recovery before resuming basketball-related activities, Nowitzki appears to be right on pace to return to working out on the court around that time to his own dismay.
Believing that he could return early from the minor procedure, the 7-footer admitted Tuesday to being slightly disappointed he couldn’t cut his absence short while his team continues to play up-and-down basketball without him. Still, with his long-term future in mind, Nowitzki says he will not rush back too soon after missing nine games last season due to soreness around the same ailing right knee.
“Unfortunately not as soon as we all hoped I think,” Nowitzki said of his return date. “I think originally the last statement that we put out was that it’s gonna take six weeks before I do any basketball activities and unfortunately I tried but I couldn’t cut the time down. We just started basically doing a little bit of cardio, in the pool and riding the bike a little bit. I did the elliptical for the first time yesterday in a long time. So, saying all that, I think I’m still about a couple — two weeks — out before even getting on the court — start working out, start running, start shooting. So, that would actually put me right at about six weeks starting to get on the court. By that point, I’m assuming I need a good week or two to get in halfway decent playing shape — running, shooting and doing all sorts of stuff.”
He added: “So, I was obviously hoping to cut that time a lot shorter. I think it’s been a frustrating time for me here and there, especially watching and nothing I can really do. So there’s been some hard days, some frustrating days, but I think now it’s gotten better the last couple weeks or so, so now I guess I’m seeing the end of the tunnel. But there was still some frustrating times in the beginning.”
That frustration has at times stemmed down to his coach and teammates during the early stage of the season, as the Mavs have gotten off to a 6-6 start without their go-to scorer. And with Nowitzki unable to help as his team fell to a 105-101 overtime loss to Golden State on Monday night to begin a three-game homestand, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle admits that his squad still has work to do in order to make up for the 7-foot void in the lineup until No. 41 returns to the floor.
“Dirk will get there and we know he’ll be back at some point, but nobody knows exactly when that’s gonna be,” Carlisle proclaimed after the Mavs’ Tuesday practice. “And so, for now, we’ve gotta press forward with the guys that we have and we have to take up the slack in some of these areas where we’re having some slippage and where we’re losing ground.
“He’s been pretty positive through the whole thing and it has been frustrating, but I had the same procedure two years ago and I’ve talked to him a lot about it. He and I have talked about it and there are stages that there are plateaus and then you get to a point and you start having some quantum leaps. So, he’s doing all the right things, we’ve got the best doctor in the league, we’ve got the best training staff in the league and it will happen when it happens. But it’s not gonna happen until he’s ready, and we’re gonna be vigilant about that.”
Note: The Mavs will continue their three-game homestand Wednesday night, welcoming in the New York Knicks. The Knicks handed the Mavericks a 104-94 loss in New York on Nov. 9. The game will air locally at 7:30 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Southwest. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS (6287) or by visiting Mavs.com.
