Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban revealed the thought process behind acquiring Kyrie Irving, describing the star guard as a “fallen angel” who proved his value in Dallas.
Speaking on The Arena, Cuban admitted he initially shared concerns about Irving’s reputation during his turbulent stints in Boston and Brooklyn. Many around the league labeled Irving a locker room problem, but Cuban said player feedback told a different story.
According to Cuban, fellow athletes consistently spoke highly of Irving and embraced him after games in ways that showed genuine respect. That insight convinced Dallas to pursue him.
“We were trying to get another star to pair with Luka,” Cuban said, via HoopsHype. “Everybody called him a cancer. But every player I talked to loved him… so I’m like, ‘Okay, we’re going to go out and pull this trade off.’ Because he was, you know, a fallen angel.”
The Mavericks acquired Irving in February 2023, pairing him with Luka Doncic for two seasons before Doncic’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year. Despite skepticism at the time, Cuban maintains the move was the right call.
Irving quickly reminded the league of his talent. He earned his ninth All-Star selection in 2025 before an ACL tear in March ended his season. His injury created uncertainty about his availability for 2025–26, but Dallas re-signed him to a three-year deal in July.
For his career, Irving has averaged 23.7 points and 5.6 assists per game while shooting nearly 39% from three. He won a championship with Cleveland in 2016, hitting the decisive Game 7 shot against Golden State.
Cuban emphasized that Dallas’ strategy was not just about acquiring talent but also about investing in Irving as a person. “We’re just going to give him a lot of attention and talk to him,” Cuban said. “And… it paid off.”
