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DALLAS -- Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki underwent arthroscopic surgery on his bothersome right knee Friday.
The Mavericks announced that Nowitzki, 34, is expected to resume on-court activities within approximately six weeks, which means it's certain that he will miss the beginning of the regular season.
The Mavs have 13 regular-season games scheduled during that six-week window.
The 11-time All-Star has missed the Mavericks' last three preseason games due to swelling and soreness in the knee. He hoped to put the surgery off until after the season, but it was determined that he needed to have the cause of the inflammation dealt with now.
The Mavericks' medical staff drained the knee twice this month, and the swelling returned within days both times. Nowitzki's knee did not respond as hoped to a program of rest, icing and low-impact conditioning work this week, leading to the decision to get the knee scoped.
"If it's going to keep swelling up on me, that's obviously not a way to go throughout an 82-game season and hopefully long playoff run," Nowitzki said Monday after the swelling returned again following his participation in three consecutive practices.
The knee started bothering Nowitzki, a 14-year NBA veteran, during last season's training camp. He struggled mightily at the beginning of the lockout-compressed season, leading to his taking four games off to focus on conditioning. The knee wasn't an issue for the rest of the season, but Nowitzki had his worst statistical year since his second year in the NBA, averaging 21.6 points and 6.8 rebounds for a defending championship team that was swept in the first round.
The Mavs open the season on the road Oct. 30 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and six of their next eight opponents were lottery teams last season.
The biggest concern about Nowitzki missing time might be the stunted development of the remodeled Mavs' on-court chemistry. There are eight newcomers on the roster, including starting point guard Darren Collison, shooting guard O.J. Mayo and center Chris Kaman.
Kaman, meanwhile, has a strained calf and will not be making the trip for the Mavs' preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Carlisle said the team's trainer will stay in Dallas over the weekend to monitor Kaman and Nowitzki and that he'd have more information on Kaman next week.
The Mavericks announced that Nowitzki, 34, is expected to resume on-court activities within approximately six weeks, which means it's certain that he will miss the beginning of the regular season.
The Mavs have 13 regular-season games scheduled during that six-week window.
The 11-time All-Star has missed the Mavericks' last three preseason games due to swelling and soreness in the knee. He hoped to put the surgery off until after the season, but it was determined that he needed to have the cause of the inflammation dealt with now.
The Mavericks' medical staff drained the knee twice this month, and the swelling returned within days both times. Nowitzki's knee did not respond as hoped to a program of rest, icing and low-impact conditioning work this week, leading to the decision to get the knee scoped.
"If it's going to keep swelling up on me, that's obviously not a way to go throughout an 82-game season and hopefully long playoff run," Nowitzki said Monday after the swelling returned again following his participation in three consecutive practices.
The knee started bothering Nowitzki, a 14-year NBA veteran, during last season's training camp. He struggled mightily at the beginning of the lockout-compressed season, leading to his taking four games off to focus on conditioning. The knee wasn't an issue for the rest of the season, but Nowitzki had his worst statistical year since his second year in the NBA, averaging 21.6 points and 6.8 rebounds for a defending championship team that was swept in the first round.
The Mavs open the season on the road Oct. 30 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and six of their next eight opponents were lottery teams last season.
The biggest concern about Nowitzki missing time might be the stunted development of the remodeled Mavs' on-court chemistry. There are eight newcomers on the roster, including starting point guard Darren Collison, shooting guard O.J. Mayo and center Chris Kaman.
Kaman, meanwhile, has a strained calf and will not be making the trip for the Mavs' preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Carlisle said the team's trainer will stay in Dallas over the weekend to monitor Kaman and Nowitzki and that he'd have more information on Kaman next week.
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