Kyrie Irving has been out of action since March 2025, as he suffered a torn ACL in a game against the Sacramento Kings. The Dallas Mavericks guard was leading the team after their midseason decision to trade Luka Doncic, but went down just a month after the team made that deal.
Irving's injury essentially gave Dallas the losses it needed to enter the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, which they wound up winning and drafting Cooper Flagg with. From a two-year window to maximize Irving and Anthony Davis, the Mavs have been gifted with a multi-year window with a generational talent like Flagg.
The Mavericks still intend to compete for a title this season, although the injury timeline hasn't been revealed. Irving shared some insight on his recovery on a livestream, giving Mavs fans who hoped for a return next season a negative update.
“Don’t hold your breath on that… I just want to be back 150,000% better. I’m taking my time right now to really get healthy… I just want to be back out there.”
Irving's comments confirm that his decision to return will be made when it's in the best interests of his health. As a 33-year-old guard, Irving can't afford to push himself to return too soon. It's in the best interests of the franchise as well, with Irving signing a new multi-year contract with them.
Feb 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Feb 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Losing one year to get maximum production from the final two might be better than having three consistently hampered years because Irving never took the time he needed to recover.
We saw Jamal Murray take 18 months off after an ACL tear in the middle of the Denver Nuggets' championship window, with the team being better off in the long term, as he played a crucial role in their 2023 title.
Kyrie averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 50 games last season, on pace for an All-NBA selection before his season-ending injury.
With a bright future in Dallas still, Kyrie might prefer the team's chances in later seasons when he's 100% rather than trying to make an early return and force a competitive season while Flagg is learning the NBA as a rookie.