When the Mavericks' media relations staff informed reporters that Dirk Nowitzki would be available to speak on Sunday, it piqued anticipation that the franchise icon was near his long-awaited 2018-2019 season debut, perhaps as soon as Monday against Orlando.
Instead, the update from Nowitzki on Sunday is that there really is no update, other than the fact that the pain level and mobility in his left ankle are improving and that he still plans to play sometime in 2018.
In other words, sometime in the next three weeks.
"Not quite," Nowitzki said when asked if he's ready to return.