NBA: Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks
Mar 17, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) go for the ball during the first quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Michael Porter Jr. has major respect for Kyrie Irving as fellow colleagues in the NBA. Having played against him this summer, the Brooklyn Nets star forward expressed surprise about the Dallas Mavericks star guard amid the latter’s ACL recovery.
Irving has been playing in the league since 2011, shining as one of the best guards when healthy. He is coming off an ACL injury he suffered during the 2024-25 season, missing the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign.
Having had an entire year to successfully rehab from the season-ending injury, Irving has made big strides to get back onto the court. Porter knows this firsthand, having played against him within the last week. Safe to say that Porter expressed shock towards how well Irving is moving after completing rehab.
“I was hooping with him yesterday and this is off of his ACL. That dude was so cold, bro. I couldn’t believe how he was moving out there… Bro, it was nutty. It was crazy,” Porter said on the Curious Mike podcast.
Michael Porter Jr. on playing with Kyrie Irving earlier this week:
“I was hooping with him yesterday and this is off of his ACL. That dude was so cold, bro. I couldn't believe how he was moving out there… Bro, it was nutty. It was crazy.”
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What Lies Ahead for Kyrie Irving and Mavericks Next Season
NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Dallas Mavericks
Dec 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) jokes with his teammates during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Kyrie Irving’s current situation with the Mavericks is much different than when the team landed him from the Brooklyn Nets in 2023.
Irving paired with Luka Doncic to form one of the most talented duos in the league. They brought success to the Mavericks, reaching the NBA Finals in 2024 before losing to the Boston Celtics. However, things changed overnight when Dallas traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.
Irving now stands out as the star veteran on a young team. Cooper Flagg is now the future face of the franchise, needing a solid supporting cast to win more games. Jason Kidd is also no longer the head coach, seeing Dusty May take in the reins after dominating as a head coach in college basketball for the Florida Atlanta Owls and the Michigan Wolverines.
Dallas finished with a 26-56 record last season, settling for 12th place in the Western Conference standings. They were above the Memphis Grizzlies and the Sacramento Kings while being under the New Orleans Pelicans and the Golden State Warriors. The team hopes to return to the postseason after last appearing in 2024, needing serious improvements across the board.