Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving addressed his recovery, tempering expectations about returning during the playoffs. Speaking candidly, the veteran said, via HoopsHype, “Don’t hold your breath on that,” when asked about his availability.
Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on March 3 against the Sacramento Kings and underwent surgery later that month. Although initial reports suggested a possible return by January 2026, optimism within the Mavericks had been building about his progress in recent weeks.
However, Irving made it clear he is prioritizing full recovery over any timeline. “That doesn’t mean I won’t be back, it’s just—I don’t want to make any predictions on when I’m going to be back,” he explained. “I just want to be back 150,000% better.”
The 33-year-old emphasized the physical and mental challenges of rehabilitation. “I’m taking my time to really get healthy. I’m taking my time to get my body right—other portions of my body right—and really just enjoy this recovery process,” he said.
Irving called the process a “beautiful struggle” but acknowledged the difficulty of being sidelined while his teammates continue their playoff push. Before the injury, he was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting over 40 percent from three-point range.
When healthy, the Mavericks believe their core remains competitive enough to contend in the Western Conference. But for now, Irving is focused solely on his recovery.
