Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives with the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center.
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
It's been nearly 16 months since Kyrie Irving took the floor during an NBA game. The nine-time All-Star has spent that period rehabbing from a torn ACL. Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. recently played alongside Irving and said the Mavericks guard looks like his normal self.
“I was hooping with Kyrie yesterday, and this is off of his ACL. That dude was so cold, bro. I couldn't believe how he was moving out there,” Porter said on his YouTube channel, Curious Mike. “He was getting to the lane, there's all [seven] footers in there, and he was somehow [finishing] with the left. Bro, it was nutty. It was crazy.”
Irving was still performing at an elite level at the time of his injury. He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists on .473/.401/.916 shooting splits across 50 appearances in 2024-25 en route to his ninth All-Star appearance.
Following an extended rehab process, the 34-year-old said his knee was nearing full strength at the start of the offseason.
“I am definitely close to being over at 100 percent in terms of my ACL recovery,” Irving said during a Twitch live stream in late May. “It’s been a while now. It’s been a year and some change. I’m so grateful I’ve had some time to heal and experiment with my body on the court and off the court, in the weight room.”
Dallas has experienced significant roster turnover since Irving last took the floor.
Kyrie Irving nearing 100 percent following extended ACL recovery
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts after shooting against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at American Airlines Center.
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
After selecting Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, the Mavericks traded Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards at last year's deadline. They then bought out Klay Thompson and traded Khris Middleton to the Wizards this offseason.
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Dallas' shift away from its high-priced veterans following Flagg's arrival has led to speculation surrounding Irving's future. The Mavericks have rebuffed trade interest for Irving, but rival teams have continued to question whether the star guard could become available in the near future, according to Marc Stein.
“The Mavericks, as we've been writing since mid-June, have consistently swatted away trade interest this offseason in nine-times-an-All-Star guard Kyrie Irving,” Stein wrote. “Rival teams, however, continue to wonder aloud about how firmly Dallas will stick to that stance once the season begins and the next in-season trade deadline on Feb. 11 gradually approaches. The primary factor fueling that curiosity, of course, is that fact that Irving is 34 and Mavericks star forward Cooper Flagg is 19. Not your average age gap between the team's two best players.”
The Mavericks are a ways away from title contention. Dallas' over/under win total for 2026-27 is 32.5, and the team is a +270 underdog to make the playoffs, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
Irving will make $39.5 million this season and has a $42.4 million player option for 2027-28. Should he perform well during the first half of the year, the Mavericks could look to trade him for value at this year's deadline or next offseason.
Marcus Sasser enters this season as Irving's primary backup at point guard. The Mavericks acquired Sasser and Santi Aldama in July as part of a six-team trade that sent AJ Johnson, a top-20 protected 2030 first-round pick (via Golden State) and a 2029 second-round pick (via Houston) to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dallas also drafted Spanish point guard Sergio de Larrea with the No. 25 pick in the 2026 draft.