Kyrie Irving Reportedly Eyes 'January-February' Injury Return After Mavs Draft Flagg
Things are looking up for the Dallas Mavericks after they selected National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and they got some more positive news on Thursday.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported during Thursday's episode of Get Up that Mavs star point guard Kyrie Irving is eyeing a midseason return from the torn ACL he suffered on March 3.
"I'm told the Mavericks are not going to be rushing him back. He personally is hopeful and targeting that January-February period," Charania said.
Irving was in the midst of another strong season before it was cut short when he landed awkwardly in the first quarter of a loss to the Sacramento Kings. He finished the year with averages of 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists, though his scoring average jumped to 27.8 points in February following the shock trade of star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Irving was forced to shoulder a significant load in the wake of that move. The acquisition of star big man Anthony Davis was expected to alleviate that pressure, but he suffered an adductor strain in his Dallas debut that forced him to miss six weeks, leaving Irving alone as the focal point of the offense again. It didn't take long for his knee to buckle as he tried to carry the team.
Despite Irving's injury, the Mavs wasted little time in making a long-term commitment to him. Charania reported on Tuesday that he will decline the $43 million player option for the 2025-26 season and sign a new three-year, $119 million contract to remain in Dallas.
Charania stated that Irving's decision to stay with the team "was based on a commitment level from both sides, wanting to build a legacy in Dallas, and believing in the franchise's ability to win a championship when he returns healthy from a torn ACL."
A core led by Irving, Davis and Flagg could be enough for the Mavs to be perennial title contenders in the Western Conference for years to come. If all of them can stay healthy, Dallas will have a strong chance to achieve its second championship in franchise history.
