Months after tearing his ACL, Kyrie Irving, star of the Dallas Mavericks, has made a big choice about his NBA future.
Should Irving choose to forego his $43 million player option, he was expected to become a free agency the following month.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who broke the news on Tuesday night, the 33-year-old Irving will sign a $119 million contract with the Mavericks for three years, turning down his $43 million player option.
It would be a decision that would keep him in Dallas and out of free agency.
An additional player for the 2027–28 season is reportedly a part of Irving’s new deal.
Irving’s new deal gives him $40 million every year.
His decision to stay with the Mavs, according to ESPN’s reporting of his interview with the 13-year NBA veteran, was influenced by “a commitment level from both sides, wanting to build a legacy in Dallas, and believing in the franchise’s ability to win a championship when he returns healthy from a torn ACL.”
Coach Jason Kidd will have Irving back on the court with All-Star Anthony Davis and No. 1 selection Cooper Flagg as soon as he returns. Irving had a 24.7 point, 4.8 rebound, and 4.6 assist average when he hurt his left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament.
ESPN reported that Irving won’t play at the start of the 2025-26 season but is hopeful to return as early as January.
His new deal will allow the Mavericks to open up the $5.7 million midlevel exception to look for a guard in free agency to take his place, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
The 2025–26 season will not see Irving in action at the outset, according to ESPN, but he is hoping to make a January return.
An NBA insider named Marc Stein has learnt that the Mavericks will be able to use the $5.7 million midlevel exception to sign a guard in free agency when he signs his new deal.
ESPN reported that some guard targets for Dallas include Dennis Schroder, D’Angelo Russell, Chris Paul, and Malcolm Brogdon.
Irving’s deal is the second one the Mavs have made this week
A three-year, $54 million deal was extended with centre Daniel Gafford. Nearly $60 million is the maximum possible value of the deal. In 2024–25, Dallas only managed a 39–43 record; next year, they’ll be looking to improve.
In February, they stunned the NBA world by trading five-time All-NBA point player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster transaction, but the 24–25 season was marred by criticism. Doncic guided them to the NBA Finals, and then they traded for him.
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