“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one,” Irving said in a statement. “I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates, and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I look forward to coming back stronger next season. My belief and drive only grow. I want to send a huge shoutout to everyone who has torn their ACL or faced injuries doing what they love. THANK YOU for the inspiration. No fear!”
Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, communicated with Shams Charania of ESPN to explain the choice to delay Kyrie’s return until the 2026-27 season.
“This is about Kyrie being 1000% when he comes back and giving himself the best chance to chase a championship next season,” she said.
Irving tore the ACL in his left knee nearly a year ago during a game against Sacramento on March 3. He underwent surgery about three weeks later, and was ruled out indefinitely.
It is common for players to take a full year or longer to recover from an ACL tear. Thus, it was never certain that Irving would return this season, despite head coach Jason Kidd expressing hope for his return in 2025.
Although his recovery seemed to be going well, the 33-year-old consistently advised caution about expectations, telling fans last summer not to “hold your breath” for a return during the 2025-26 season.
With Dallas out of playoff contention and rebuilding its roster after trading Anthony Davis to Washington, there was little urgency to rush Irving back. Last week, Irving mentioned he would soon update his status, with Marc Stein reporting that the decision would be made collaboratively between Irving and the Mavs.
Irving, who signed a new three-year contract worth over $118 million with Dallas as a free agent last summer, is set to earn a guaranteed salary of $39.5 million next season, with a player option of $42.4 million for 2027-28. If the Mavs pursue a youth-focused strategy, he could become a trade candidate in the 2026-27 season. However, the team has indicated that it has no plans to trade Irving and sees him as a good fit alongside Cooper Flagg.
The organization is expected to appoint a new permanent head of basketball operations soon, which could bring a different perspective. Currently, there’s no sign that Irving won’t remain a Maverick when the 2026-27 season begins.
While it’s in the Mavs’ best interest to lose more than they win in the final two months of this season to improve their draft lottery position, that incentive will change next season. The team doesn’t control its own first-round picks from 2027 to 2030.
Before his ACL injury last season, Irving was performing at an All-Star level, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, with shooting percentages of .473 from the field, .401 from beyond the arc, and .916 from the free-throw line.