Dallas Mavericks Could Pull Plug On Kyrie Irving’s ‘Hopes’ To Play This Season
The Dallas Mavericks could have discussions about postponing Kyrie Irving‘s comeback until next season, according to NBA reporter Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Irving is recovering from a torn left ACL. The 2016 NBA champion wants to play this season, but Dallas is better suited to lose games because the 2026 NBA Draft is the final draft in which the franchise controls its first-round pick until 2031.
“The return date of Kyrie Irving, the co-star on the Mavs’ 2024-25 NBA Finals team, as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in early March remains to be determined,” MacMahon wrote. “He has yet to be cleared to practice, and while Irving has made it clear that he hopes to play this season, sources anticipate that, considering the Mavs’ place in the standings, there will be discussions about postponing his comeback until next season.”
Irving appeared in 50 games for the Mavericks last season. He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists per game while shooting 47.3% from the field, 40.1% from beyond the arc and 91.6% from the free-throw line.
Dallas signed Irving to a three-year, $118 million contract last offseason. Irving is making $36.6 million this season. He can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 by declining his 2027-28 player option worth $42.4 million.
While the Mavericks have not publicly communicated a return timetable for Irving, sources told DallasHoopsJournal senior reporter Grant Afseth that Irving could return after the NBA All-Star break. Dallas is currently in 12th place in the Western Conference standings. If the regular season ended today, the Mavericks wouldn’t even be in the NBA play-in tournament.
A nine-time All-Star, Irving has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks. He has career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists per game. The 33-year-old won the 2016 championship with the Cavaliers.
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