The Dallas Mavericks will be without Kyrie Irving for the rest of the 2025-26 season, according to NBA insider Shams Charania, who reported Wednesday that the nine-time All-Star will continue rehabbing his torn ACL and target a return in 2026-27.
Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, told ESPN: “This is about Kyrie being 1000% when he comes back and giving himself the best chance to chase a championship next season.”
“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one. I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows,” Irving said in a team statement.
“And I wanted to send a huge shoutout to ALL of my brothers and sisters out there whove torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they love to do every day. THANK YOU for the inspiration. No fear!”
The 33-year-old guard tore his left ACL on March 3, 2025, against the Sacramento Kings and underwent surgery on March 26. Standard recovery timelines for ACL injuries range from nine to 12 months, particularly for perimeter players who rely on lateral movement and change of direction.
Dallas enters the stretch run at 19-35, sitting 12th in the Western Conference and outside the Play-In picture. The Mavericks have lost nine straight games and trail the 10th-seeded LA Clippers (26-28) by a significant margin, while the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder stand at 42-14.
The franchise made a decisive shift at the trade deadline, signaling a long-term rebuild around rookie Cooper Flagg. Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum were moved in a three-team deal that returned Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Marvin Bagley III, multiple first-round picks, and additional second-round assets.
The moves cleared nearly $70 million in salary and created flexibility through trade exceptions and the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Dallas now controls multiple first- and second-round selections through 2032, including a 2026 first-round pick from Oklahoma City and a 2030 first from Golden State.
With Irving sidelined all season, Flagg has emerged as the focal point. The 19-year-old forward leads the team with 20.4 points per game in 49 starts, adding 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists while logging 34.1 minutes per night. His development has become central to the Mavericks’ evaluation phase.
Irving had said during a recent Twitch livestream, “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.”
The organization has now made that timeline clear. For Dallas, the priority shifts fully to long-term health and roster construction, with Irving expected to return next fall positioned to lead a retooled group into the 2026-27 campaign.
The news about Irving not returning this season comes in the wake of Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban’s public support for tanking in the NBA.
