“This resolution wasn’t straightforward, however it’s the proper one,” Irving mentioned in an announcement. “I’m grateful for the Mavericks group, my teammates and our followers for his or her continued help all through the method. I’m wanting ahead to coming again stronger subsequent season. The assumption and drive I’ve inside solely grows. And I wished to ship an enormous shoutout to ALL of my brothers and sisters on the market who’ve torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they like to do every single day. THANK YOU for the inspiration. No worry!”
Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, additionally issued an announcement to Shams Charania of ESPN to clarify the choice to postpone Kyrie’s return till the beginning of the 2026-27 season.
“That is about Kyrie being 1000% when he comes again and giving himself the most effective probability to chase a championship subsequent season,” she mentioned.
Irving tore the ACL in his left knee practically a yr in the past, struggling the harm in a March 3 recreation towards Sacramento. He underwent surgical procedure about three-and-a-half weeks later and was dominated out indefinitely.
It’s not unusual for gamers to take a full yr — or longer — to return from an ACL tear, so it was by no means thought of a positive factor that Irving can be again on the ground this season, even with head coach Jason Kidd making headlines initially of November by expressing hope that his level guard can be again in 2025 moderately than 2026.
Whereas his restoration appeared to be progressing effectively, the 33-year-old constantly made an effort to maintain expectations in test, advising fans last summer to not “maintain your breath” on seeing him return in the course of the 2025-26 common season.
With Dallas out of the playoff image and retooling its roster round Cooper Flagg after buying and selling Anthony Davis to Washington earlier this month, there was even much less urgency to carry again Irving down the stretch. The veteran guard indicated last week that he’d quickly present an replace on his standing, with Marc Stein reporting that the choice can be a collaborative one between Irving and the Mavs.
Irving, who signed a brand new three-year, $118M+ contract with Dallas as a free agent final summer time, will earn a $39.5M assured wage subsequent season, with a $42.4M participant choice for 2027-28. If the Mavs absolutely lean right into a youth motion, he might emerge as a commerce candidate in the course of the 2026-27 league yr, however the group has repeatedly messaged that it has no plans to commerce Irving and that it views him as a super match alongside Flagg.
After all, the group can be anticipated to rent a brand new everlasting head of basketball operations sooner or later within the coming months, so it’s attainable that government will maintain a special view. However for now, there’s no indication Irving received’t nonetheless be a Maverick when the 2026-27 season suggestions off.
Whereas it’s within the Mavs’ finest curiosity to lose greater than they win throughout this season’s ultimate two months with a view to maximize their place within the draft lottery, they received’t have the identical incentive starting subsequent season. The group doesn’t management its personal first-round picks for the 4 years from 2027-30.
Previous to the ACL harm final season, Irving continued to carry out at an All-Star stage, averaging 24.7 factors, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 36.1 minutes per recreation, with a taking pictures line of .473/.401/.916.
