And that’s how you take a defeat gloriously. The Dallas Mavericks led a spectacular run, dominated in the West, and made it to the Finals for the first time since 2011. They prevented a humiliating sweep with a blowout Game 4. But ultimately, Game 5 was conclusive for their season with a 106-88 finish. They couldn’t reclaim the title while the Boston Celtics made history as the franchise with the most championships to their name. Dirk Nowitzki was the one who last won Dallas its title. Now he’s in the team in a new role but with the same vigor.

He kept Mavs nation uplifted with a brief but encouraging message on X. And maybe a warning for the next season. “Great run @dallasmavs Heads up!! We will be back!!!” he wrote. Leave it to Dallas’ original hero to tide us over the heartbreak.

Currently, the 2011 Final MVP is a special adviser for his team. He’s been front and center at games cheering on the Mavs and even hanging out with fans. He was the much-needed morale booster this season.

After an embarrassing 2022-23 campaign, the Mavericks restructured to an impressive roster. Luka Doncic was on a high-scoring spree and his coach was comparing him to the Dunking Deutschman. His and Kyrie Irving’s backcourt chemistry was drawing comparisons to the best offensive duos. They recalibrated at the trade deadline and looked stronger than ever. But they didn’t come up with a definitive answer for a stacked Celtics squad. The offseason is looking gloomy for the Mavs and impending doubts loom about where their flaws lie.

But who knows better than Dirk Nowitzki about what it feels to be within reach of the finals only to leave empty-handed? The road to the 2011 championship is something Doncic and the guys in Boston can relate to.

Dirk Nowitzki sees Dallas on the championship path

This championship is a hard-earned win for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum who have been in the playoffs for 107 games- the most without a title for a duo. Unlike the Mavs, the Celtics had a finals appearance and lost to the Warriors in 2022. In comparison, the Mavs didn’t look like championship contenders till they had a towering Dirk 2.0 in Doncic. But he’d have to go through the same path Nowitzki, Brown, and Tatum did.

Nowitzki endured few playoff failures but the closest he came to the title for the first time was in 2006. Too bad the Miami Heat was just as stacked and able to take the title. During subsequent years, Nowitzki would lead the team to playoffs but struggled to reach the Western Conference Finals. It was when everyone thought he was past his prime that Dallas made it to the finals again off his back in 2010-11. And we know how that turned out.

This is the same guy who was looking like a giant cuddly bear among fans during this series. If he paraphrases Arnold Schwarzenegger, remember The Terminator came back several times.