The Dallas Mavericks faced a major setback when star guard Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending injury during their March 3 matchup against the Sacramento Kings. Irving went down with a non-contact injury late in the first quarter, and the following day, ESPN's Shams Charania confirmed that the nine-time All-Star had torn his ACL and would miss the remainder of the season.
Irving had been carrying the Mavericks in Luka Doncic's absence, stepping up as the team's leader after Doncic was sidelined on Dec. 25 and later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. In 23 games without Doncic, Irving averaged 25.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, keeping Dallas in the playoff race (via StatMuse).
Following the devastating news, the NBA community quickly rallied around Irving, showing support for the veteran guard.
Overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, Irving took to X to share an emotional message, which drew reactions from fans and fellow players-including Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) March 9, 2025
Morant, who had just led the Grizzlies to a 122-111 victory over the shorthanded Mavericks, praised Irving for his leadership and dedication to the game.
"He's a great guy, a great vet, a great player," Morant said (via The Hoops Journal). "It shows how much he loves the game, being here tonight supporting his team."
Morant led the Grizzlies with 31 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the win, as Memphis-currently fourth in the Western Conference-continues its push for higher playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the Mavericks, now on a five-game losing streak, will have to navigate the rest of the season without their veteran superstar.
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This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM.