Kyrie Irving Reportedly Will Have 'Strong Say' on Injury Return Timeline Despite Mavs Struggles

Kyrie Irving will reportedly be heavily involved in the decision about whether he will return to the court this season as he recovers from surgery for a torn ACL.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday "the decision will be a collaborative one" between the guard and the Dallas Mavericks with Irving getting "a strong say on his preference."

That is notable since the 2026 draft is the last time Dallas is scheduled to control its first-round pick through 2031. With that as the backdrop, Stein suggested "there is certainly a strong case from the team perspective for Irving, who turns 34 on March 23, to sit out the entire season now" to improve that pick.

This comes after Irving provided something of an update in a Saturday Twitch livestream when he said, "For all you guys asking questions, just about, am I excited about this year, or am I excited about next year—it doesn't really matter, guys. I'll give you an update when the time is right."

Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal also reported "Irving's recovery has advanced steadily" with the guard "expected to be physically able to play after the All-Star break."

At this point, the playoffs are not a realistic destination for the Mavericks.

For as bright as the future is with Cooper Flagg as the franchise cornerstone, the team is just 19-35 this season and seven games behind the 10th-seeded LA Clippers for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference standings.

Cooper Flagg Dunks on Brooks

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Dallas also traded Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a move that seemed focused on the future.

Irving's return would surely bolster the immediate outlook but likely not enough to make a difference in the playoff race.

It could hurt the Mavericks' draft outlook, though, but the guard may also want to test his knee in live-game action this season before he is once again expected to be an on-court leader for a potential playoff push alongside Flagg next season.

All of those factors will surely come into play as both Dallas and the nine-time All-Star evaluate the overall situation.