Klay Thompson shared his thoughts on Kyrie Irving’s devastating ACL injury, expressing confidence in his Dallas Mavericks teammate’s ability to bounce back stronger.
“It hurt, obviously, Kyrie being out for, you know, 10-12 months,” Thompson said after the Mavericks’ 133-129 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, via ClutchPoints. “We know he’s gonna come back stronger… I’m not worried about him because I’ve seen his work first hand and it’s some of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during last week’s game against the Sacramento Kings, prematurely ending his 2024-25 season. The 32-year-old guard had been a key piece for the Mavericks, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 40.1% from three-point range.
His injury is a massive setback for Dallas, which currently holds the 10th seed in the Western Conference with a 33-33 record. With only 16 games left in the regular season, the Mavericks’ playoff hopes are now in jeopardy.
Thompson acknowledged the challenges ahead but remained optimistic. “It sucks to be without him this year… We still have big goals, we still want to make a run. The injuries have been awful, but I still love our team,” he said.
The Mavericks’ roster has been decimated by injuries, particularly in the frontcourt. Daniel Gafford (knee), Dereck Lively II (ankle), P.J. Washington (ankle), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (wrist), and Jaden Hardy (ankle) are all sidelined. Even Anthony Davis, acquired at the trade deadline, remains out with an adductor injury, with no clear return date.
“We have an amazing frontcourt, we miss those guys dearly, obviously as you can tell with the lack of size out there,” Thompson added. “They’re probably the strong point of our team. But we’re showing as much heart as we can.”
Irving’s absence also raises questions about his long-term future in Dallas. He is in the second year of a three-year, $126 million contract and holds a $43.96 million player option for the 2025-26 season. Before the injury, he was widely expected to decline the option and pursue a new deal, but the situation is now more uncertain.
If Irving opts in, he could negotiate a four-year extension worth up to $266.7 million or test free agency for a five-year deal potentially exceeding $313 million. However, recovering from an ACL tear at 32 years old may impact his market value.
Thompson, who signed with Dallas last offseason, reaffirmed his belief in the organization despite the adversity. “I still believe in this franchise,” he said. “I’m here for two more seasons after this, so I’d love to help them return to glory that they were brought to in 2011.”
The Mavericks will now look to Thompson and their remaining healthy players to carry the load as they push for a playoff berth. With Irving out and several other key pieces injured, Dallas faces a steep uphill battle in the final stretch of the season.
