Dirk Nowitzki Turns Down Max Paydays With Lakers & Rockets To Stay In Dallas

Money is the motivation for some, not all. Like Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki is another Baller who is taking a pay cut to stay with his team. Not only that, he turned down max deals with major teams to stay right where he was at. 

Via Mavs Blog

Nowitzki already was going to take a steep pay cut, but when he formally signed his new, three-year contract Tuesday, it was for even less than advertised. He was expected to sign a deal worth about $30 million over the life of the contract.

Instead, it’s closer to $25 million for three years, a further reduction that helped facilitate the Mavericks’ $46 million offer sheet that netted them Chandler Parsons.

Nowitzki will be the fourth-highest paid Maverick on this season’s roster, behind Parsons, Tyson Chandler and Monta Ellis.

He’s doing it all in the name of rebuilding a title contender. Nowitzki quickly went to his Twitter account to simply say: “MFFL.” Mavs Fan For Life.

“That just shows what kind of guy he is,” Parsons said Tuesday evening. “Dirk is a true pro, and he’s so loyal to Dallas and the organization. Those are the guys you want in the locker room and to be teammates with. “To take a [pay] cut like that, obviously he knows he could make a lot more, but it says a lot about a guy.”

The contract was made even more unique because a source said that at least two teams — Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers — made near maximum offers to Nowitzki early in free agency, but he didn’t even give those teams an audience. 

His heart never left Dallas. This is where it’s been since he got here in 1998. “You can count guys like Dirk on one or two fingers,” president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. “We’re so lucky to have him. He’s a winner.”

And is clearly willing to sacrifice in the name of winning.