Nowitzki: 'Dallas will always be home'

There's no place like home - even adopted ones.

Dirk Nowitzki was 20 years old when he moved to Dallas after the Mavericks drafted him ninth overall in 1998.

Now 38, he's entering his 19th campaign with the franchise as his retirement looms.

Related: Nowitzki to 'take it year by year' in effort to finish career strong

There's been speculation Nowitzki could return to his homeland of Germany once his NBA career ends, but he doesn't see that happening.

"I think my future is more in the U.S.," he told Eddie Sefko of SportsDay. "I think we've been here too long."

The 13-time All-Star, whose children were born in the U.S. and have American passports, has truly embraced his NBA city.

"So for now, I think Dallas will always be home," said Nowitzki, who led the team to its first championship in 2011.

Should he move back to Germany, he could pick up a role with the country's top basketball club. Bayern Munich has made the future Hall of Famer a standing offer to take up an advisory role.

Nowitzki doesn't intend to accept the position, though, citing his all-or-nothing mentality.

"I don't think I can do a job like that if I'm not there full time," the 2007 NBA MVP said, adding, "I can't be a manager or have influence on a team if I'm not there and can't do stuff every day. I don't want to do something halfheartedly. So that's not something that's in the plan."

The 7-footer averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 boards, and 1.8 assists over 75 games last season. This summer, he signed a two-year, $50-million deal to remain with the Mavs.