Dirk Nowitzki had arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss about six week. He was hoping to avoid surgery, but the team and Nowitzki thought better of trying to continue to push it off hoping it would get better over an 82 game schedule. He also had problems with the same knee the early part of last year, though it is not clear how long Nowitzki and the team knew surgery should be a real consideration through this offseason. Planning multiple weddings can be hell on a gimpy knee, though.

Jean-Jacques Taylor is optimistic that this surgery is exactly what he needed–that Nowitzki would not have been right all year if he did not have it– and that he’ll be back dominating after those six weeks. Nowitzki now joins a list of notable names who will not be around at the start of the NBA season. It’s a list that includes Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, and John Wall.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Mavericks averaged 8.4 more points for every 48 minutes with Nowitzki than without him. The most games that Nowitzki has missed in a season since his rookie year is nine (2010-2011).

[photo via US Presswire]