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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on February 25, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
After being selected with the first overall pick during the opening round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday night, Cooper Flagg is the talk of the town in Dallas.
Mavericks fans received a notable injury update on fellow former No. 1 overall draft pick Kyrie Irving on Thursday, however.
During an appearance on “Get Up,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Irving is looking to return from his torn ACL by the middle of the 2025-26 season.
“Uncle Drew” suffered his season-ending injury on March 3 against the Sacramento Kings.
Mavericks Won’t be ‘Rushing (Irving) Back,’ Guard ‘Targeting’ Midseason Return
According to Charania’s report, Irving’s timeline to come back from his injury may have him back in the lineup before the 2026 All-Star break and under one year after he went down vs. the Kings.
“I’m told the Mavericks are not going to be rushing him back. He personally is hopeful and targeting that January-February period,” the insider said.
The nine-time All-Star posted 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game across 50 contests last season before suffering his injury.
Could Mavericks be a Western Conference Finals Contender in 2026?
Ever since the ping pong balls miraculously bounced Dallas’ way during May’s NBA Draft Lottery, the heavy assumption was that the franchise would select Flagg with the top overall pick.
Despite plenty of trade ideas crafted by NBA writers which would have planted Flagg with another team, there was never any real chance that the Mavericks would give up the rights to draft the once-in-a-generation talent.
With Flagg joining 10-time All-Star, elite big man Anthony Davis, and Irving once he returns from injury, Dallas could be a serious threat in the Western Conference again in 2026.
While they obviously no longer have Luka Doncic, much of the rest of their NBA Finals squad from 2024 remains, as does head coach Jason Kidd, at least for now.