DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki has already come to grips with the fact that the NBA will host its All-Star Weekend without him for the first time since they staged this event after he entered the NBA.
The NBA had no All-Star Weekend when Nowitzki joined the league during the 1998-'99 season, because of the lockout. However, the Dallas Mavericks' forward participated in the three-point shootout in 2000 and '01 during All-Star Weekend, and has been in the All-Star game from 2002-'12.
But that streak will come to an abrupt end when All-Star Weekend is held in Houston from Feb. 15-17. That's because the arthroscopic right knee surgery Nowitzki underwent on Oct. 19 forced him to miss the season's first 27 games and prevented him from gaining any traction towards continuing his All-Star Weekend streak.
But that's OK with Nowitzki, who won the three-point shootout in 2006 in Houston, and also participated in this event in 2008.
"Yeah, that's obviously a disappointing streak to end, but it is what it is,'' Nowitzki said after this morning's practice at American Airlines Center. "I had fun representing the Mavs all these years, but it's a tough year for me with injuries.
"So I guess those four days (off) I'm going to enjoy and get a good amount of work in as well and be recharged for the second half of the season.''
-- Dwain Price
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