Mark Cuban is allowing Dirk Nowitzki to play for Germany in 2015
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been openly opposed to NBA players in international competitions that the NBA doesn't control or profit from.
With NBA players potentially risking injury, he wants the NBA to have as much control and stake in the event as possible, so that there is a benefit to the NBA and its customers. He's been against the International Olympic Committee's involvement in international tournaments like the Summer Olympics and has said the IOC is "playing the NBA."
Cuban has put his foot down in the past to keep Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki from occasionally playing in such competitions, but will ease up when it comes to the 2015 European Championships. Nowitzki told reporters he will be allowed to return to the German national team and will try to help Germany qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in basketball. From Deutsche Welle:
According to reports from the German newspaper SportBild, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has given Germany's NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki permission to take part in basketball's 2015 European Championships. After being asked whether he would be allowed to return to the national team, the 36-year-old Nowitzki answered with "Yes."
The Würzburg-born star is the focus of the team, but his most recent international outing is a while back: He last played for Germany in the 2011 European Championships in Lithuania. At the EuroBasket two years ago, Cuban put his foot down and said no.
Dirk last played for Germany in 2011, when he and Chris Kaman teamed up to help Germany qualify for the 2012 Olympics. They didn't have enough support during the tournament and finished ninth as they failed to qualify. Nowitzki skipped the European Championships in 2009 and the FIBA World Championships in 2010. He participated in the 2007 European Championships and helped Germany qualify for the 2008 Olympics by leading the Germans to the final spot in a qualifying tournament in 2008.
Nowitzki will be 37 years old when the European Championships begin.
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