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Nowitzki also said that he intends to take no less than a two-year break from playing for his country after Germany's failure to secure the top-six finish required to remain eligible for Olympic qualification. But he left open the possibility of rejoining the squad in the summer of 2015, at the age of 37, to try to help the Germans qualify for the 2016 Olympics. "I'm not going to retire (from the national team) and I'm not going to say that I will definitely play (for Germany) again," Nowitzki said Sunday night after watching Spain beat France in the EuroBasket final on TV at his Wurzburg home. "I'm going to take a couple years off, then we'll see." ESPN.com

Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany 

"If I'm in decent shape, we would have won another game or two," said Nowitzki, who initially described Germany's early exit as "my fault." "But I'm not sure we were going to medal." ESPN.com

Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany, Eurobasket 

He could, of course, secure that historical mark if he opts to return for another tour of duty in next summer's qualifiers for EuroBasket 2013. The assumption, as he enters the veteran stage of his career, has always been that it was Olympics or bust. Maybe not. "My gut feeling is that he'll come back," Bauermann said. "I don't think he's done. I think he'll play for Germany again. Not next year, not the year after. But I don't think he's done. "That's his decision but that's my gut feeling." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany, Eurobasket 

Nowitzki, as proud a German as he is a Maverick, will listen to his gut but also to his body. This summer has underlined his physical limits. He will rest up now to prepare for the NBA season, when it comes. The defense of the title will take top priority. There is no urgent rush to confirm or reject Bauermann's prediction. Germany, already grateful, will give him all the time he needs to decide on whether this really was the end of the road. "I don't know," Nowitzki admitted after the game. "I'll just have to wait and see what the future brings. The fans have been great. I've met so many great people over the years. The journalists have been great to me. "Basketball's given me a lot of great memories." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany, Eurobasket 

In front of 11,000 screaming, partisan supporters, a Lithuania loss would have brought devastation for an entire nation. For Nowitzki, the end of his hopes of playing in another Olympic Games, this time in London, was no less painful. He had 16 points and 11 rebounds but could not provide the kind of heroics that helped carry the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA title three months ago. By the end, quite simply, he had nothing left to give. "Overall, I don't feel I was in the kind of shape I needed to be in here," he acknowledged. "I don't feel I really played a good tournament for us. I missed a lot of shots. Even today, in the fourth quarter, it was a tight game and I had two or three looks that I have got to make." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany, Eurobasket 

Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman had a game-high 25 points but only five of Germany's players scored in the game. Lithuania, ultimately, was just too good and its youthful energy was just too much for a 33-year-old -- playing his 102nd competitive game inside the past 12 months -- to resist. "I give him so much credit for having played here," said Germany head coach Dirk Bauermann, whose own tenure in the job has come to its end. "He had a super short break after winning the NBA championship. Obviously, he wasn't rested and a lot of NBA players wouldn't have played under these circumstances. He dragged himself out here and he gave us everything he had." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany, Eurobasket 

Said Dirk: “It was 13 great years. It was a great time with big success, which I will always look back on with mixed emotions.” (And yes, he was using the past tense: “Es waren 13 tolle Jahre. Es war eine Riesenzeit mit großen Erfolgen, auf die ich immer mit einem lachenden Auge zurückschauen werde,” runs the original.) Ball In Europe

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany, Eurobasket 

Mark Woods: Dirk Nowitzki just told me in post-game TV interview of delight that his Olympic dream is still alive. Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany, Eurobasket 

Nowitzki scored 19 points but disappeared offensively after giving Germany its final lead, 57-56 with 9:41 left in the fourth quarter. He took only two shots the rest of the way, missing them both. “We did a good job on their stars, Nowitzki and Kah-man. Is it Kah-man or Kaman?” Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo, betraying his lack of Clippers knowledge, said as he turned to his German counterpart, Dirk Bauermann, in the post-game news conference. “Marc tried to stop Kaman from going to his left because he knows he likes that move, and he is so effective because he notices those kinds of small details. It’s not just his size and his scoring ability,” Scariolo said. SheridanHoops

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Dirk Nowitzki, Spain, Chris Kaman, Germany 

A loss to Spain on Wednesday would give Germany an almost impossible mission to rescue its ambitions. Keeping the center combo of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka under control will be pivotal to Germany's hopes of an upset win over the reigning champion. Typically, Kaman pulls no punches. Bring on the challenge, he declared. "I'm not worried about anybody," he confirmed. "I've been playing in the NBA for eight years and I play against all these guys. Serge Ibaka, the Gasol brothers, they're all solid players, but none of them are better than Dirk Nowitzki and none of them are any better than the rest of us. "We're all playing basketball and there is no reason to worry about any player. We just play our game and do the things we're supposed to do." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Spain, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Germany, Eurobasket 

Having "Deutschland" stretched across the front of his jersey could compel Kaman to do a double-take. But the pride of Grand Rapids, Mich., will wear the red, white, black and yellow by virtue of his great-grandparents' German heritage. "I take a little bit of heat for it," Kaman said, "but I don't care. I'm going to do what I want to do." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, FIBA, Chris Kaman, Germany, Eurobasket 

Kaman said Germany struggled in Beijing because of poor shooting but also acknowledged that he had difficulty adapting to the physical nature of international play. "It was like a wrestling match to me," Kaman said. "I was like, Are we playing football or basketball?" Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, FIBA, Chris Kaman, Germany, Eurobasket 

Wendell Maxey: kaman said he is still open to playing in germany if lockout lingers. at end of the day it's not about the money. just wants to play ball. Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Lockout, Chris Kaman, Germany 

Germany’s Chris Kaman has told fans not to worry if it takes a while to find his rhythm during Eurobasket. The Los Angeles Clippers big man admitted to DBB-TV that he hasn’t played competitive basketball since April. “I've been just on my own, shooting, running and lifting weights - all that stuff," Kaman said. TalkBasket

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Kaman, Germany 

Dirk Nowitzki on signing in Germany: "I do not think is realistic. I'd have to choose a club and the others would be angry." SPORT1

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Lockout, Germany 

Alba Berlin, Brose Baskets Bamberg and Bayern Munich pursued the NBA champion. "I always leave my options open so it's not 100 percent sure, but I do not think the chances are really high." SPORT1

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Lockout, Germany 

Lakers draftee Andrew Goudelock could be the next 2011 second-round pick to sign overseas. Agent Austin Walton told HoopsHype his client is looking at two offers from Germany and Spain - both with NBA outs. “One is a Eurocup team in Germany and the other an ACB club,” Walton said. “We are seriously considering both offers. We are working the final stages of negotiation with both clubs.” HoopsHype

Los Angeles Lakers, Spain, Germany, Andrew Goudelock 

Dirk Nowitzki: "Obviously, there are offers. There are concrete offers on the table. I won't rule out Germany. Everybody is always only talking about Germany. I might also (go) play in China or South America." SPORT1

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Lockout, China, Germany, South America 

Tony Gaffney has signed a one-year deal with the German club Telekom Baskets Bonn. Gaffney's deal includes an NBA-out, but it expires after October. That means he can only opt out if the NBA season starts on time. HoopsWorld

Free Agency, Tony Gaffney, Germany 

Skyliners Frankfurt made official the arrival of the rookie Jon Leuer. The power forward was selected by Milwaukee Bucks in the 2011 NBA Draft with the 40th overall. Leuer signed an annual deal with NBA out when lockout ends. In his senior year at college with Wisconsin Badgers, Leuer averaged 18.3ppg and 7.2rpg. Sportando

Milwaukee Bucks, Germany, Jon Leuer