Dirk Nowitzki didn’t deliver the news hopeful Dallas Mavericks fans wanted Tuesday as the star forward said he is still three to four weeks away from making his season debut.

With a return targeted for mid-December, the arthroscopic surgery Nowitzki had to clean out his bothersome right knee on Oct. 19 could cost the 11-time All-Star another 10-13 games.

“Unfortunately, I tried, but I couldn’t cut the time down,” Nowitzki said of his recovery process. “We just started doing a little cardio in the pool and riding the bike a little (Monday) and riding the elliptical for the first time in a long time. So, saying all that, I think I’m still about two weeks out before even getting on the court and start working out, start running, start shooting. By that point, I’m assuming I need a good week or two to get in halfway decent playing shape running and shooting and doing all sorts of stuff.”

via Jeff Caplan of NBA.com