The Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving last played in the NBA back in March 2025, when he tore his left ACL in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings. The resultant rehabilitation has now finally reached its final stages, and while Irving is no stranger to injury absences, this one appears to have taken its toll.
Irving recently explained that the past years has been utterly traumatic and has taken a toll on his both mentally and emotionally, per a post on X by ClutchPoints.
"Last year, I had a very traumatic injury, tore my ACL… it's been a long year mentally, emotionally. When something that you love gets taken away from you for a temporary moment, that really defines you."
– Kyrie Irving
(via @TheNBPA)pic.twitter.com/GKQw7owwHY https://t.co/ujHCgMiY1G
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 10, 2026
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“Last year, I had a very traumatic injury, tore my ACL… it's been a long year mentally, emotionally. When something that you love gets taken away from you for a temporary moment, that really defines you,” he said.
The nine-time All-Star is one of the most gifted players the NBA has ever seen and was elite in the 2024-25 season despite the injury, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game across 50 appearances. His stature means that the Mavericks, who look intent on building their future around the generational Cooper Flagg, have plenty of suitors for the 2016 NBA champion.
A range of teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, the Detroit Pistons, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets reportedly maintain an interest in the 34-year-old, despite the injury. Irving, who played a pivotal role in helping Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, might prefer a move to a contender, rather than a team in the development stage. Still, despite him looking set for yet another chapter in the league, the rehabilitation still seems to have been taxing.
The former No. 1 overall pick has yet to play alongside Cooper Flagg, which might remain the case if the Mavericks indeed choose to trade him. Irving is owed $39.5 million next season and holds a $42.4 million player option for the summer of 2027, and any such move from the Mavericks would undoubtedly come if they believe they need to trade him in order to build around Flagg.
The Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving last played in the NBA back in March 2025, when he tore his left ACL in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings. The resultant rehabilitation has now finally reached its final stages, and while Irving is no stranger to injury absences, this one appears to have taken its toll.