After undergoing ACL surgery four months ago, Kyrie Irving, a point guard for the Dallas Mavericks and a nine-time All-Star, has been resting.
Just one year after Dallas last made it to the NBA Finals (in 2011), general manager Nico Harrison shocked the league by trading five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the season. Irving’s playing time and responsibility quickly increased as a result.
His frustrating knee ligament tear occurred less than a month after the trade, ending the Mavericks’ postseason hopes.
In return for Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris, the Mavericks received 10-time All-Star center/power forward Anthony Davis (who suffered an injury right away), shooting guard Max Christie, and Los Angeles’ first-round draught choice in 2029.
Dallas made it to the play-in round this spring, but they didn’t make it to the playoffs and ended up in the draft lottery.
By a stroke of bad luck, the Mavericks were able to get the first overall pick and the privilege of choosing Duke sensation Cooper Flagg.
According to Underdog Sports, Harrison has now provided an unexpected update regarding Irving’s health.
Kyrie’s ahead of schedule but we kind of knew he would be,” Harrison offered, “but we don’t want him to rush it as much as he wants to rush it.
Earlier this summer, despite his questionable health for the 2025-26 season, Irving declined his $43 million player option for next year and inked a three-year, $119 million free agent deal to stay with Dallas through 2027-28. Irving has a player option for the last season on the deal, when the already injury-prone Duke product will be 35.
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