Dusty May hasn’t been around Kyrie Irving for long, but he already sounds sold.
The Dallas Mavericks’ new head coach appeared on 105.3 The Fan’s K&C Masterpiece show and made it clear that Irving has left a major impression on him, both as a worker and as a presence around the team.
“Well, I’ve been a part of a couple of workouts with Kyrie,” May said. “I’ve watched him work out on his own, and I’ve watched him play pickup, and then I’ve gotten feedback from others that have watched him play recently, and I couldn’t be more excited to be on his team. I’ve been blown away.
“We all know how talented Kyrie is with the ball in his hands; when the ball’s not in his hands,” May continued. “But to see his level of preparation, attention to detail, and IQ, it’s something that I’ve never seen at the level that he works at. And I can’t wait for him to share that with the rest of our group, especially the young core that we have.”
That young core now includes Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and Morez Johnson Jr., the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. May sees Irving as a player who can help show them what daily professionalism looks like.
Irving’s future has been a talking point for months, but the Mavericks’ position appears to be pretty clear. As early as June, it was reported that Dallas did not want to trade the veteran guard, even after several contenders showed interest. ESPN’s Shams Charania later reported that owner Patrick Dumont wants Irving and Flagg together next season, and there is belief inside the organization that Irving’s leadership will matter for Flagg’s development.
May didn’t stop at praising the work ethic. He said Irving brings answers, not problems.
“The thing with Kyrie, he has a solution for everything,” May said. “And typically when you’re speaking of a guy like this, you’re talking about someone that’s over the hill, and you’re wanting them to be more of a veteran leader and locker room presence.
“Well, he’s also, when healthy, one of the best players currently in the league,” May continued. “… I mean when you look at the range of experiences he’s had from college through his championship years on to the Celtics, and with us… For someone to still be able to impact the day-to-day like he does and then also to have the leadership role that he’s going to have, it’s going to prove to be invaluable.”
Irving tore his left ACL during a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2025, and the 34-year-old missed the rest of that season as well as the entire 2025-26 campaign. His absence came as the Mavericks shifted from title hopes into rebuild mode, which fueled the speculation around his future.
Still, May’s comments make it sound like Dallas is looking at Irving as more than a name on the roster. In 2024-25, he averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. What version of Irving the Mavericks get in 2026-27 remains to be seen, but May is already convinced the upside is real.
In Other News...
Dirk Nowitzki Just Put Massive Expectations On Cooper Flagg
Dirk Nowitzki spent part of a recent appearance on the DLLS Mavs podcast talking about where he fits, or might fit, in the Mavericks new front-office setup, and he also turned his attention to the teams biggest new name. In a city that still measures every young star against the standard Nowitzki helped set, his take on rookie Cooper Flagg carries extra weight, especially with Dallas trying to build something fresh around its new core.
Nowitzki said Flagg has the kind of talent that could put him on an All-Star track, while also noting there are still areas of the game that need polish before the ceiling comes into full view. He also pointed to the way Flaggs style could mesh with Kyrie Irving, a reminder that Dallas is not just looking for promise, but for a player who can grow into the demands of a very specific roster. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Draft Pick Faces A Bigger Fit Problem Than Fans Realized
Morez Johnson Jr. arrived in Dallas as a draft pick with obvious appeal on the interior, but the fit questions were there from the start because the Mavericks know they cannot load up on non-shooters and expect the offense to hum. Johnsons perimeter game is the part that will likely determine how quickly he can carve out real minutes, and the early read is that his development will matter as much as his rim-running and physical tools.
The concern is only sharpened by the kind of lineup Dallas may want to build around him. Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively II are both below-average shooters, which means Johnsons long-range growth is not just a nice bonus but a necessary piece of the puzzle if the Mavericks want spacing that works. For now, the talent is easy to see, but the path to a regular role may depend on a shot that still has to catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Have A Cheap Roster Decision That Could Get Complicated
Kelly Olynyk has spent part of the offseason around former Spurs teammates, and the veteran big man still carries the kind of reputation that keeps him in the conversation for a return. He is viewed as a positive locker room presence, which matters for a team trying to balance young talent, roster flexibility and the realities of the next few months.
The question is less about whether Olynyk fits than when San Antonio would choose to act. A reunion as the 15th man has been floated, but the Spurs may prefer to wait until the season is underway before making any move because of luxury tax considerations, leaving a simple roster decision with a potentially messy timetable. [Read more 🡒]