Dirk on declining Nets job: 'Don't know if I could do it anywhere' but Dallas

Dirk Nowitzki confirmed he turned down an offer to join friend Steve Nash as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets.

"First of all, I don't know if I could do it anywhere but here," Nowitzki told the Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend. "Second, I just think the timing is not right. I love being with the family. I'm so over basketball at this point that it wasn't even a thought for me."

Nash, who played with Nowitzki on the Mavs from 1998-2004, gauged his former teammate's interest in joining the Nets after he was named Brooklyn's head coach last month. Nowitzki retired in April 2019 after 21 seasons with Dallas, the longest playing career with one team in NBA history.

Nowitzki has a standing offer from Mavs owner Mark Cuban to rejoin the team in nearly any capacity he wants, per Townsend.

The 42-year-old believes Nash will make a fine bench boss despite not having any coaching experience.

"(Nash) was always the first one to slap people on the butts when things weren't working," Nowitzki said. "To me, he was one of the most positive teammates I've ever been around. I think he's going to be great. He'll learn more about the timeout situations, play-calling and stuff like that, but he already has what it takes to be a natural leader to me."