Kyrie Irving’s long road back to basketball action appears to be over. After missing the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL, the Dallas Mavericks star is reportedly fully healthy and preparing for his return.
The update puts to rest months of trade speculation, with a top NBA insider revealing that Irving remains firmly at the center of Dallas’ plans.
Shams Charania Says Kyrie Irving Is ‘Fully Recovered’ and Central to Mavericks’ Future
Speaking on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania shared a major update on Irving’s recovery while addressing his standing with the Mavericks organization.
“From my understanding, he’s fully recovered. A hundred percent with that ACL tear from a couple of seasons ago,” Charania said. “He’s been fully entrenched in the Mavericks’ plans this offseason. You know, him and Dusty May, they’ve spoken. Him and Masai Ujiri, the new president, they’ve spoken. Mike Schmitz, their new general manager, has spoken.”
Kyrie Irving Has 100% Recovered From His ACL Tear. And Is Doing Great Per, @ShamsCharania
“He’s fully recovered, 100% from that ACL tear a couple seasons ago. He’s been fully entrenched with the Mavericks plans this offseason.” pic.twitter.com/6CMCcEF9Ar
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) July 28, 2026
Irving suffered a torn ACL during a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2025. The injury sidelined the nine-time All-Star for the entire 2025-26 campaign as he focused on rehabilitation.
During his absence, Dallas underwent sweeping changes both on and off the court.
The Mavericks hired Dusty May as head coach while reshaping the front office by bringing in Masai Ujiri as team president and Mike Schmitz as general manager. The franchise also added top prospect Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft, signaling the beginning of a new era.
Despite all those changes, Irving’s place within the organization reportedly never wavered.
Throughout the offseason, rumors suggested LeBron James was interested in reuniting with Irving in Cleveland. However, multiple reports indicated that the Mavericks had no interest in entertaining trade discussions involving their veteran point guard.
According to reports, Dallas has consistently turned away inquiries from teams despite Irving’s value remaining high around the league.
His return, meanwhile, is expected to provide an immediate boost to the Mavericks.
Dallas could hand Irving the keys to the offense, allowing him to resume his role as the team’s primary ball-handler and playmaker. That setup could also ease the transition for the 19-year-old Flagg, who is expected to operate as a secondary creator rather than carrying the full responsibility of running the offense.
Questions have naturally been raised about how Irving and Flagg will fit together. But the Mavericks’ front office has repeatedly expressed confidence in the pairing.
Back in May, Schmitz praised the combination of Irving’s creativity and Flagg’s versatility.
“Having a magician with the ball like that who can pass, dribble, shoot, and someone with the connective qualities of Cooper, it’s a match made in heaven,” Schmitz said.
On the court, the partnership appears to make sense. Irving’s ability to manipulate defenses and generate open looks should allow Flagg to thrive as an all-around connector who can attack open space and impact the game without dominating the ball.
