The Dallas Mavericks might have shot themselves in the foot when they traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis in February, lowering the team’s competitive ceiling in the eyes of many. However, they were still a contender on paper until Kyrie Irving tore his ACL against the Sacramento Kings in March while carrying the team in the absence of Luka and Davis, who was injured.
The injury is expected to have a 9-12 month recovery window for athletes. Shams Charania of ESPN reports that the Mavs are hoping 33-year-old Irving is ready to play by January 2026.
“The expectation around the Dallas Mavericks and Kyrie Irving is that he will play a good chunk of next season. There’s optimism that he’ll be back by January, and he’s got a $44 million player option before that.”
“The goal for the Mavericks is to rip up his player option and give him a three-year deal to align him with Nico Harrison’s three years and Anthony Davis’ three years. Before his injury, he was playing at an All-Star and All-NBA caliber level.”
Reporting for NBA Countdown on the target return for Dallas Mavericks All-Star Kyrie Irving after his March ACL tear: pic.twitter.com/nIXqxiKNzR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 17, 2025
That’s a bold expectation, as Irving is a small guard who relies on his quick-twitch abilities to fool defenders. It’s hard to imagine his knee tolerating his dribbling style in the same way it could before the injury. Irving’s expert ways of finding angles and bursting through open space with his tight handle will be impacted after he returns.
Assuming Irving will be back on the court by January is optimistic. I don’t doubt he could probably return to the court, but the process of finding his best self once again might be a much longer one. I wouldn’t feel comfortable calling the Mavericks contenders for next season with the Irving and Davis duo, primarily because we need to see where Kyrie is at after the injury.
Kyrie would’ve likely made an All-NBA team this season if he had played over 65 games. He was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, single-handedly carrying the Mavericks in the month after the Doncic trade until his injury.
His absence has left the Mavericks without any real playable guards, hoping to get elite production from the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy in his absence. The team will have to make trades to keep itself competitive until Irving’s return to the court.
Dallas isn’t going to have a fun season next year. They’ll continue dealing with the fallout of their disastrous trades this season, with the hope they don’t make it worse for themselves in the summer.
Even with this injury, Irving is in a great position to demand a max three-year contract from the Mavericks because they simply have no one else to rely on. Outside of the injury, Irving has done everything possible to earn a max extension as the team’s locker room and on-court leader.
