Will Kyrie Irving rejoin the Dallas Mavericks this season? Many had hoped the Mavericks would maintain their standing after capturing the 2024 Western Conference title. However, the organization shocked the basketball world by making the infamous decision to trade away Luka Dončić in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Since that moment, the Mavericks have deteriorated significantly. While multiple factors have contributed to their struggles over the past nine months, Irving’s ACL injury has undoubtedly been among the most consequential. With Irving sidelined for the foreseeable future, much of the basketball community continues to speculate on whether he will return this season.
Kyrie Irving Not Eager To Rejoin the Dallas Mavericks in Aftermath of ACL Surgery
Out of all the guards across the league, one could argue that Irving is on a level of his own in terms of creative scoring and finishing at the rim. He is also a capable facilitator, more than able to run the Mavericks’ offense.
Unfortunately, Irving tore his ACL in a game against the Sacramento Kings last season. He was sidelined as the Mavericks were unable to advance past the play-in tournament and had a lengthy offseason to focus on rehabilitation and recovery.
That ultimately destroyed any chance of seeing Irving and Davis in action together, something the fan base had eagerly anticipated would be enough to win an NBA title. More importantly, recent reports suggest that Irving may not rejoin the team this season, even if he has fully recovered from his ACL injury.
ESPN senior NBA insider Tim MacMahon reported on “The Hoop Collective” podcast that Irving is recovering faster than expected, meaning he may be able to rejoin the Mavericks this season. However, “other reasons” may persuade the veteran point guard to sit out the entire season.
“Kyrie is making great progress on his recovery,” he said. “I would say his return this season is very much in question for other reasons.”
Although MacMahon did his best to avoid stating the obvious, the Mavericks’ lack of success is clearly among the factors Irving is weighing. With both Irving and Davis unavailable consistently, the team has struggled significantly and currently holds a 4–11 record through the first 15 games of the 2025–26 season
This trajectory suggests the Mavericks have minimal chances of qualifying for the postseason. Consequently, there appears to be little justification for accelerating Irving’s return in an attempt to salvage the current campaign.
While it remains possible for the Mavericks to regain momentum and stabilize during the regular season, the reality is that they face a steep uphill climb, one that is expected to further discourage Irving from making a return this year.
