Everyone knows how good Dirk Nowitzki was on the court, but you’d be hard-pressed to find faults on his personality too. He’s regarded as one of the nicest and most likeable NBA players ever – a great ballplayer and hardworking company man that any team owner or executive would love to have.

The future Hall-of-Famer spent his decorated 20-year career with the Dallas Mavericks, where he weathered through embarrassing playoff exits and trade rumours. All that has led to arguably becoming the most beloved figure in Dallas sports history.

While he guided the Mavs to a memorable 2011 championship win, many believe he could’ve gotten one earlier and maybe a couple more if the front office evaluated and planned better. Two of the team’s most scrutinized moves during Nowitzki’s time was letting Steve Nash and Tyson Chandler walk in 2004 and 2011, respectively.

In a recent interview with The Dallas Morning News, Dirk spoke on both matters:

“I think what hurt us really was the lockout after winning it all. It’s just that we made some business decisions after the lockout that hurt us a little bit in the long run. With [Steve Nash], I think that was tough. I think Mark [Cuban] felt like [Nash’s back] was not going to hold up for six-plus years or whatever Phoenix offered him. I thought for sure we should’ve kept him.”

Dirk Nowitzki on what could have been with Steve Nash

Nowitzki and Nash both arrived in Dallas in 1998 and soon formed a trio with the team’s then star, Michael Finley. They eventually took over his spot and became the two main stars to lead the Mavericks’ deep playoff runs. During the 2004 free agency period, though, when Nash was 30 and nursing a nagging back injury, the Mavs front office decided not to match the Phoenix Suns’ hefty, six-year, $63 million offer.

The Mavs and Suns exchanged playoff series wins against each other over the next two seasons. Nash won back-to-back MVPs in those years, and Dirk had one after that, but ultimately, both parties suffered tough playoff eliminations from 2005 through 2010.

Now we’re left to wonder what might’ve been if the two stayed teammates and further matured in the playoffs.

As for Chandler in the 2011 off-season, it was indeed a very questionable decision. The defensive big man played a key piece in their championship run yet they refused to reward his efforts. He was quite the presence in the paint, locking it down while they advanced against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, whom they swept, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had three future MVPs, and the Miami Heat, who had superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

It was believed that team owner Mark Cuban was hesitant to dish out big contracts due to the impending changes in the collective bargaining agreement, as the league was on the verge of a lockout during negotiations. The team’s short, two-year deal was eventually rejected so they instead opted to trade Chandler to the New York Knicks, where he won Defensive Player of the Year in his first season.

The Mavs traded back for Chandler in 2014 but it was too late, so he was again let go after one season. Dallas has not qualified for the postseason since 2016, and they haven’t won a playoff series since winning the championship in 2011.