体坛英语新闻：Nowitzki makes NBA record of 21 straight seasons in one franchise

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Dirk Nowitzki will make a NBA record of playing 21 straight seasons with the same team after the Dallas Mavericks have re-signed the German star.

Nowitzki is now set to begin his 21st season with Dallas which will be an NBA record for a player with the same franchise. The previous record of 20 was held by Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers.

No details were released about the deal which was announced on the team's website on Monday.

Nowitzki was the ninth overall pick in the 1998 entry draft and was acquired by the Mavericks via a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 13-time all-star Nowitzki is the most decorated Maverick in franchise history. He was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006-07 season and MVP of the 2011 NBA finals.

Nowitzki, who turned 40 last month, is the league's only international player with more than 30,000 career points.