Kyrie Irving’s NBA season for this year is officially over—and it’s a brutal blow for the Dallas Mavericks. The star guard went down early in Monday’s 122-98 loss to the Kings, suffering what was initially diagnosed as a left knee sprain. But after further evaluation, an MRI confirmed the worst—a torn ACL in his left knee.
Now, Irving faces a long road to recovery, but if there’s one thing we know about Kyrie, he’s built different. And UConn star Paige Bueckers made sure to remind everyone of that.
Paige Bueckers’ Shout out to Kyrie Irving After Injury News
ESPN shared a post on Instagram after news broke of Irving’s season-ending ACL tear. Showcasing Kyrie’s reaction to the devastating injury. Despite the heartbreaking moment, Irving remained calm and simply said, “Thank you, God.”
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That’s peak Kyrie energy—turning a setback into a moment of reflection and gratitude.
Paige Bueckers, who knows a thing or two about battling injuries herself, shared the post on her Instagram story with a simple two-word reaction, “The Realest.”
And honestly? She nailed it. Kyrie’s mindset has always been different from the rest. While most players would be frustrated, angry, or emotional, he handled it with nothing but grace. Bueckers, who has also fought through major injuries in her basketball career, clearly resonated with that.
What’s Next for Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks?
For Dallas, this is a brutal setback at the worst possible time. The Mavs are now 32-30, barely clinging to a Play-In spot. With a loaded Western Conference and key players already missing, things are getting real shaky in Dallas.
And Kyrie was their go-to guy in crunch time. Before the injury, he was on fire, scoring 30+ in five of his last seven games and proving himself as the team’s top perimeter threat after Luka Dončić was traded to the Lakers. Now? The Mavs are missing their biggest scoring weapon when they need him most.
To make matters worse, Dallas is seriously banged up—already missing Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington Jr., and even Jaden Hardy, who went down mid-game with an ankle injury. The team finished Monday night’s loss with just nine active players, and now, March and April don’t get any easier.
As for Kyrie? ACL tears aren’t easy to come back from. But if there’s one thing Kyrie showed before leaving the game? That Mamba Mentality. He insisted on taking his free throws after the injury. This resolve can help him recover from this. His skill, footwork, and basketball IQ don’t rely on pure athleticism, which means he can reinvent his game if needed when he returns.
One thing’s for sure—he’s not done yet. And if Paige Bueckers’ reaction tells us anything, it’s that Kyrie will always be one of the realest to ever do it.
