The Dallas Mavericks are trying to figure things out, and without Kyrie Irving, it's more difficult.
On Wednesday night, the Mavs took Klay Thompson out of the starting lineup. They haven't been starting D'Angelo Russell, but head coach Jason Kidd felt he needed that point guard in his lineup.
If Irving was healthy, of course, point guard wouldn't be a concern. He'd be the automatic starter at that crucial position, helping set the table for Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis while also doing plenty of scoring himself.
But for now, Irving remains on the sideline, injured and watching and waiting.
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When is Kyrie Irving coming back?
Kyrie Irving is expected to be back on the court at some point this season, but not until the calendar turns to 2026.
The superstar guard tore his ACL on March 3, 2025. That's an injury that can have up to a year recovery timeline.
Irving has previously said, on a Twitch stream, that "there's no timetable for when I'm coming back."
The rumors will likely start earlier. Athletes have begun to work their way back faster from torn ACLs. New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs made it back on a nine-month timeline in the NFL.
Irving is a bit of an enigma, which may start to create some unusual rumors as his return to the court gets closer. Fans might wonder if Irving has used any alternative techniques for recovery.
The Mavericks won't care so much about the how as the when. They need Irving to make it back in time to make a difference in the playoff hunt. They'll be counting the days until his actual return to an NBA game.
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