The Dallas Mavericks are off to a slow 4-10 start to the season. A major contributor to their early-season struggles is the number of injuries to key players.
Perhaps the most notable absence is that of Kyrie Irving, who has yet to play this year due to an ACL injury. However, an NBA insider said Irving could return this season to reinforce the Mavs.
NBA Insider Says Kyrie Irving Could Return to Action Soon
Irving was limited to only 50 games during the 2024-25 campaign. His season came to an abrupt end in March against the Sacramento Kings after tearing his left ACL. A month into the new season, Irving has yet to fully recover from this injury, which often sidelines players for more than a year.
However, there is optimism that Irving could make his return to action earlier than expected. During Monday’s episode of NBA Today, NBA insider Marc J. Spears shared an update regarding Irving’s recovery.
According to Spears, Irving is targeting a return this season. In fact, Spears claimed he could be back on the rotation by late January or around the All-Star break.
Spears also shared that a person close to Irving told him that if the playoffs were happening today, Irving could already suit up.
Still, Spears made it clear that the decision on whether Irving will return hinges on the team’s standing when he’s fully ready.
“Kyrie’s looking good, he’s ahead of schedule. He’s working out with the purpose of playing this season.” 👀@MarcJSpears on Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving returning from injury pic.twitter.com/SugdrXxZQy
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 17, 2025
While this doesn’t solve all of their problems, seeing Irving back on the court could serve as a silver lining for the Mavs.
He is a skilled floor general who can direct the offense while contributing elite scoring and ball-handling. With him playing, other Mavericks could also see more scoring opportunities, which Irving would enhance with his exceptional court vision.
He and Anthony Davis could also end up creating one of the league’s toughest dynamic duos, depending on Davis’ availability when Irving returns.
The Mavs’ young players, especially Cooper Flagg, will also benefit from playing alongside Irving. His mentorship could go a long way in helping the young players on the roster grow and develop.
While there isn’t a clear timeline for when Irving will suit up, Spears’ update indicates that fans could see him back in action sooner than expected.
