Remember last year? When the sunshine pumpers swore up and down that Kyrie Irving would be back on the court for the Dallas Mavericks by the New Year? Well, as it turns out, it was always going to be closer…
Matt Martinez explores whether 34-year-old guard Kyrie Irving can return to top form for the Dallas Mavericks following a 19-month recovery from a torn ACL suffered in March 2025. After missing the entire 2025-26 season, Irving announced at the team's media day on September 26 that he is fully unrestricted and ready to play ahead of the season opener against the Houston Rockets on October 21.
The writer argues that while Irving's health and on-court chemistry with second-year forward Cooper Flagg are vital, Dallas faces key questions over his minutes under first-year head coach Dusty May. Martinez notes that Irving could potentially become a trade candidate before the 2027 deadline if the rebuilding Mavericks decide to commit fully to their youth movement.
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