Editor's note: The following story is part of Dirk's Domain, our Nowitzki career retrospective. It can be found by going to sportsdaydfw.com/Dirk.

Amid perhaps the last week of his storied NBA career, Dirk Nowitzki a few mornings ago blurted to his wife, Jessica, a potential clue about his pending plans.

"I want to eat ice cream for breakfast."

Mavericks legend Nowitzki, 40, strictly abstains from sugar in-season. Was this craving a desire to eat what he wants, when he wants, for the rest of his life? Or until he begins training for season No. 22?

If anyone besides Nowitzki knows The Answer that Mavericks fans anxiously await to hear, surely it's Jessica Nowitzki, Dirk's wife of nearly seven years.

During a rare interview, Jessica told The Dallas Morning News that she doesn't know The Answer, either, but that Dirk is savoring every moment leading to Tuesday night's home finale against Phoenix and, then, his perhaps-career-ending game Wednesday in San Antonio.

"There's a lot of emotions, obviously," she said. "There's a lot of people asking questions and he's trying to see, 'Is there another year in my back pocket? Or am I done?'

"So we're just going to have to wait and see, but I think for now, once the season is over, he's going to enjoy having some ice cream in the morning."

This season, Nowitzki's NBA-record-tying 21st, has produced a full range of emotions for Dirk and, of course, Jessica.

There have been on-court struggles but also indelible moments. The ovations in arenas throughout the NBA. On Jan. 30, Nowitzki scored a then-season-high 14 points in perhaps his last game at Madison Square Garden.

FILE - Jessica Nowitzki blows Dirk a kiss after he surpassed the 30,000-point mark against the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Then he received a surprise invitation to play in the All-Star Game in Charlotte, his 14th, where he made all three of his 3-point attempts in just 3:58 of court time, with Jessica rising with fans on every make.

On March 18, during a home game against New Orleans, Nowitzki surpassed Wilt Chamberlain and became the No. 6 scorer in NBA history.

Five days after achieving that milestone, Nowitzki scored 21 points as Dallas routed two-time reigning NBA champion Golden State in Dirk's final game at Oracle Arena, which the Warriors are departing after this season.

Unknown to fans, that was the first road game ever attended by the Nowitzkis' three young children -- daughter Malaika, 5; Max, 4; and Morris, 2.

Sublimely, Dirk's season-best performance occurred on Max's birthday, not that Max fully grasped what Papa had done as he ran to him after the game, when Dirk emerged from the locker room.

"He actually came to see Steph (Curry), probably," Nowitzki joked, referring to the Warriors' star. "Steph ended up not playing. When I told (Max) about that pregame, I don't think he was hyped about that."

Dirk and Jessica naturally have cherished these moments, acutely aware that a storybook chapter in their lives might be nearing the last pages.

On Tuesday, when Dallas County Commissioners decreed April as the Month of Dirk, Jessica's voice cracked and tears came to her eyes as she accepted the proclamation on Dirk's behalf.

"I think it was a moment, kind of a flash, of what's to come," she said. "A lot of emotions, with the season winding down and 21 years in Dallas. I think he's just done so much for the community and the city's just embraced him that I think it's beautiful that he's receiving such great love from everyone."

RELATED: Dirk's Domain: The ultimate career retrospective of Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki

This season hasn't been what Nowitzki envisioned when he decided to miss last season's final four games to have left ankle surgery and get a head start on preparing for this one, in which he would break the NBA record for most seasons played for only one franchise.

Late in the summer, a tendon in his left foot became inflamed, causing him to miss training camp and the season's first 26 games. Nowitzki says that by the time he played his first game, on Dec. 13 at Phoenix, "I was behind the eight-ball."

Playing limited minutes and coming off the bench for the first time since his rookie season, Nowitzki struggled to regain his rhythm of last season, when he averaged 12 points and shot 41 percent from 3-point range.

The wedding picture of Dirk Nowitzki and Jessica Olsson. The ceremony took place on Aug. 8, 2012, on an island in the Caribbean. (Credit: Steve Wrubel Photography) (Steve Wrubel Photography / Credit)

"He was really taking it day-by-day, a lot of rehab and just trying to get back to playing and feeling great," Jessica said. "There was obviously a lot of disappointments and frustrations, but those setbacks, I think any athlete can go through that any time in their career.

"It happens and then you pick yourself up. For us, we were just there to support him and stay positive and cheer him on. He did such a great job. Being 40 years old in this league, I'm seeing these young guys are blowing by him, yet he still can keep up.

"It's mental, also, obviously. You keep thinking in your mind that you're a certain age or you've done this for X amount of years. I think he overcame that."

Jessica says she always has made a point not to talk basketball at home. She compares it to attorneys coming home in the middle of big cases and not wanting to relive every detail with their spouses.

Dirk and Jessica began dating in 2010, shortly after they met at a charity event during that February's NBA All-Star weekend in Dallas.

Jessica Olsson, the daughter of a Kenyan mother and a Swedish father, was an art gallery employee who had been living in Dallas for about five years when she met Dirk.

Mavericks president Donnie Nelson describes Jessica as "a life-changer for Dirk, in a lot of respects," bringing balance to his life. Nelson doesn't think it's an accident that the Mavericks broke through and won their only NBA championship during the first year of Dirk and Jessica's relationship.

They were married in July 2012.

“She’s been with me through it all, through the championship,” Nowitzki said. “I’ve been through some rough ones the last few years where I come home frustrated at times, disappointed at times, and it’s never easy for family.

“But they are my support system and they are there in good times and the bad times, so she’s always been there for me. She and the kids bring a smile to my face coming home.”

RELATED: Dirk opens up about interracial relationship with his Kenyan-Swedish wife, raising biracial kids

Even as Nowitzki’s on-court struggles continued into January, something wondrous began occurring in arenas around the country. Opposing teams’ fans began giving him spontaneous ovations and chanting his name, first in Charlotte on Jan. 2, then, especially two nights later in Boston.

Jessica says it probably was while watching that Boston game on television that it hit her: “You know what? I should probably be a part of it somehow.”

Last season, with Morris being only 1 at the time, the possibility of Jessica traveling to occasional road games was unthinkable.

But this season it was more realistic, even though much of Jessica’s “free” time is spent doing philanthropic endeavors as president of the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation.

Several friends and family members joined Dirk and Jessica in Charlotte during All-Star weekend. On Feb. 25 she was in Los Angeles’ Staples Center when Clippers coach Doc Rivers grabbed the public address system microphone near game’s end and called for fans to give it up for “one of the greatest of all time, Dirk Nowitzki.”

FILE - Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki arrive on the "blue carpet" for the Mavs Ball at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Friday, March 1, 2019. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Jessica also flew out to attend the March 4 game at Brooklyn and then took the kids to San Francisco for Max's birthday weekend, during which the Mavericks had a day off and Dirk played with the kids in the hotel's indoor pool.

"That was kind of their trip," Nowitzki said. "They had a blast. Max said the other day at breakfast, 'I want to go back to San Francisco.'"

Nowitzki in recent seasons occasionally remarked that one of the benefits of extending his career was that his kids might someday remember watching him play, though he recently noted, with a wistful smile, that Max's favorite Mavericks are the ones who dunk a lot, like Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell and Luka Doncic.

Papa hasn't dunked much the past couple of seasons. Still, when Malaika and Max in particular attend Mavericks home games, don't they notice that fans sure seem to stand and cheer a lot for Papa?

"They're excited," Jessica said. "When they go to games and see their dad play, it's exciting for a while. And then we need to get some popcorn to keep them busy. But Max, he can watch an entire game. He's really into it. He's very knowledgeable. He knows all the players' names, even players around the league.

"I think he thinks Luka and Maxi and Dwight get the same embrace as Dirk gets. So I'm not sure if they understand everything yet, but that's OK with me."

And how does Jessica feel, game after game, at American Airlines Center and road arenas alike, hearing and feeling thousands of fans collectively, in essence, say "Thank you," to her husband?

RELATED: We know Dirk the Mav; now meet Dirk the Dad

"I think everyone's still in awe of the fact that he's played 21 years, 14 All-Stars and he's the same guy he was when he came into the league," she said. "Now, I didn't know him back then, but as long as I've known him he's always been the same Dirk. For us, he's my husband and, now, a father.

"It's just a fun ride to be along. I think everything is happening so organically and genuinely, it's kind of day-by-day. It's not like I planned to be at all these away games and the All-Star Game. It's just kind of naturally fallen into place, and I think that's the beauty of it."

The season's dwindling days are certain to be most emotional of all, for the Nowitzkis, but also fans who, since they are unsure of The Answer, will embrace him as if this is goodbye, just in case.

Then come Thursday morning, Nowitzki can have ice cream for breakfast. Maybe he'll be able to do it for a few weeks. Maybe the rest of his life.

Either way, deservedly sweet.

FILE - Dirk Nowitzki embraces Jessica after winning series-clinching Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena in Miami on June 12, 2011. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News) (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer)

More on Dirk's 21st season

-- The ultimate Dirk Nowitzki timeline with the Dallas Mavericks

-- How Mavs plans to honor Dirk in final home game of this season and beyond

-- Road trip! Mavs employees busing to San Antonio for season finale

-- Breaking down how Dirk's signature shot has beaten defenders for decades

-- Swish 41: Tour every shot of Dirk's legendary NBA career

-- Dirk Madness: Vote in the ultimate bracket of his unforgettable moments