After the away game on the 12th, the Suns immediately returned to Phoenix. Due to the grueling schedule, the team did not arrange any recovery training sessions. However, that afternoon, Nowitzki drove to Pioneer's training center.
It was already mid-afternoon by the time he arrived.
Nowitzki knew the facility like the back of his hand; he even had his own designated parking spot. He parked, slung his gear bag over his shoulder, and greeted the staff along the way until he reached the court. To his surprise, someone was inside.
He had timed his arrival perfectly. The training center wasn't fully open yet, and stars from teams whose seasons had already ended hadn't shown up. During this period, only those kids from China were practicing at the facility. Nowitzki knew they ran three sessions a day and usually wrapped up around four o'clock. By coming in now, he figured he wouldn't interfere with anyone's routine.
