Cuban thinks Dirk wants to beat Kobe's record of 20 seasons with 1 team

Kobe Bryant holds the distinction of having played the most seasons in the NBA with one organization, suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016 (20 seasons).

Dirk Nowitzki will share that record once he takes the floor for the Dallas Mavericks this upcoming season. His owner and close friend, Mark Cuban, believes his 39-year-old franchise star won't stop at just tying the Black Mamba, though.

"Maybe this year will be his last year. I tend to think he wants to beat Kobe and be that guy," said Cuban, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

Nowitzki has always taken pride in remaining with one club since the beginning, saying recently that today's players don't hold loyalty in higher regard than money and winning, and that he considers himself "old school."

Other than Nowitzki, only eight current players can brag about being with their team for 10 or more seasons: Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs), Udonis Haslem (Miami Heat), Nick Collison and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), Mike Conley and Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies), and DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers).

After signing his two-year, $10-million contract with the Mavericks over the summer, Nowitzki was hopeful he'd be physically able to play out the entirety of his new deal, but said he'd wait to see how his body felt after the season before committing to the second year.

He missed 28 games last year, averaging 14.2 points and 6.5 rebounds on 43.7 percent shooting for the 33-49 Mavericks.

Nowitzki needs just 1,159 more points to surpass Wilt Chamberlain for fifth on the league's all-time scoring list.