Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki hopes he will not need surgery on his troublesome right knee that would keep him out of action for up to six weeks.
The 34-year-old German is prepared to reduce his workload in the build-up to the new season so that he can avoid an operation.
Nowitzki, who has already been forced to sit out two pre-season matches because of the injury, told NBA news reporters: "I'm doing everything I can not to have surgery.
"I guess that's obvious that I really don't want it done now. If I want to do it, I would love to do it after the season, get through the season somehow, but the swelling came back three or four times now. That's obviously not good news.
"If it's going to keep swelling up on me, that's obviously not a way to go throughout an 82-game season and hopefully long play-off run."
Nowitzki first reported the problem during the Mavericks’ pre-season ' trip to Europe and missed the defeat to FC Barcelona Regal.
Even though he was able to practice on his return to Dallas, it was decided not to risk him for the victory against the Houston Rockets when the swelling returned.
Nowitzki, a 15-year veteran and 11-time All-Star, also had problems with swelling and soreness in his right knee early last season.
It turned out to be a bad campaign for Nowitzki, one of the worst of his career, and was particularly disappointing as he had been a key figure in Dallas’ 2010-11 Championship winning campaign.
Nowitzki has enjoyed 14 successful seasons with the Mavericks, helping them to reach the play-offs in each of the last 12 campaigns.
Dallas’ first NBA stream of the new season will be against the LA Lakers on 30th October.
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