Nowitzki to Return to Mavs for Record 21st Season

Dirk Nowitzki has signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks to return for an NBA-record 21st season with one team.

The team announced the signing Monday morning. The Mavericks didn't release terms of the deal, but Marc Stein of The New York Times said the contract is worth $5 million.

Nowitzki, 40, was drafted No. 9 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998, then shipped to Dallas in a draft-night trade. He will pass Kobe Bryant, who played 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, for longevity with one franchise.

He has played 1,471 career games with the Mavericks, averaging 21.2 points and 7.7 rebounds a game.

Nowitzki led the team to the NBA title in 2011. He was the league most valuable player in the 2006-07 season and is a 12-time All-NBA selection.