DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks will be playing for his native Germany in the World Championships after the German Basketball Federation secured an insurance policy that satisfies Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, the Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday.

Nash likely to heed Cuban's dictate

As long as Mavericks owner Mark Cuban insists none of his players participate in this month's World Championships, Steve Nash, for one, is likely to heed his boss's command. "Mark is the boss and I have to think seriously about adhering to his wishes," Nash told the Canadian Press on Monday prior to a Canadian national team practice in Richmond, B.C. "I want to play for my country and I always have. This is my 10th summer with the national team. At some point I also have to look out for my career and look out for what my owner wants me to do. "I'm ready to play, I'm here to play, but if it's not what my owner wants I'll have to seriously consider his wishes." Nash's agent, Bill Duffy, told the Dallas Morning News that his player would not defy Cuban, even though according to NBA rules, Nash would have license to play for Canada because it has approved insurance coverage for the All-Star guard.

Cuban still maintains four other Mavericks shouldn't play in the tournament until they are insured more adequately.

"I'm still at huge risk," Cuban told the Dallas Morning News.

Cuban has been doing what he can to prevent Nowitzki, Shawn Bradley, Michael Finley, Raef LaFrentz and Steve Nash from playing in the World Championships, Aug. 29-Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.

Cuban has said the insurance policies covering the players during the World Championships are inadequate.

Monday, Nowitzki practiced with his German teammates in Berlin. The German federation still needs official approval and financing for the $200,000 policy. Nowitzki told the Morning News he would contribute "a little bit, but I'm not going to pay all of it."

The new policy limits Cuban's liability to 10 games, while the NBA and Team USA policies leave owners responsible for 41 games.

With five, the Mavericks have the most players that might be participating in the World Championships and the five players will combine to earn roughly $35 million next season.

"If Canada and USA Basketball come up with the same coverage as Germany, I'm glad to let the guys play on those teams," Cuban told the newspaper. "If they don't, I can't tell them, I can't even ask them not to, but I can make my feelings known publicly and let them make their own decisions."