体坛英语新闻：Mavs re-sign Dirk Nowitzki

NEW YORK, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Nine-time NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki signed a new contract with the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA franchise announced the signing in a statement issued Monday.

Source close to the Mavs said the agreement will keep the 32-year-old German at Dalls for four years and the deal is worth more than 80 million U.S. dollars.

Nowitzki had opted out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time, but he didn't talk seriously with any other teams.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki reacts after scoring against the Detroit Pistons during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Auburn Hills, Michigan November 15, 2009.

The 12-year NBA veteran has averaged 22.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, one block and 36.7 minutes in 920 career games. In 97 playoff games, Nowitzki averages 25.5 points, 11 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1 block per game.

The Wurzburg native is the Mavericks' career scoring leader with 21,111 points and tops the Mavs in career rebounding with 7,802. The 2007 NBA most valuable player became the 34th player in league history to reach 20,000 career points on Jan. 13 and ranks 27th among all-time.