The Kyrie Irving will play a significant role in determining when he returns to the court for the Dallas Mavericks, according to a new report.
Writing in The Stein Line, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein reported: “Yet I’m told that the decision will be a collaborative one …with Irving given a strong say on his preference to either give himself more time to recover from the surgery or test himself in a few games this spring.”
The update comes as the Dallas Mavericks leave the All-Star break at 19-35, sitting 12th in the Western Conference and outside the Play-In picture.
Irving has not played this season after tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025, against the Sacramento Kings. He underwent surgery on March 26, 2025, and the standard recovery timeline for an ACL tear ranges from nine to 12 months.
At 33, the nine-time All-Star faces a decision that carries both short-term and long-term implications. Guards who rely on lateral movement and sudden changes of direction often require full recovery to regain efficiency.
Last week, Irving addressed fans during a Twitch livestream, saying, “I’ll give you guys an update after the All-Star break. Whether it’s this year or next year, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll speak when the time is right.”
Head coach Jason Kidd has consistently declined to set a timetable and has emphasized patience throughout the process.
Dallas has lost nine straight games entering the break and trails the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14) by 22 games. The Mavericks are also multiple games back of the 10th-seeded Los Angeles Clippers (26-28), who currently occupy the final Play-In spot.
Irving has remained active around the team, mentoring rookie Cooper Flagg, who leads Dallas with 20.4 points per game across 49 starts. The rookie’s development has become a focal point during Irving’s absence.
Reports in November and December indicated Irving was ahead of schedule, and he has participated in light individual drills during practices. However, full-contact work is typically the final hurdle in ACL rehabilitation.
With roughly two months left in the regular season, the Mavericks face a strategic choice: prioritize a cautious approach that positions Irving for 2026-27, or allow him to test game action if cleared.
