Kyrie Irving’s first regular-season game since tearing his ACL on March 3, 2025 comes with a lot baked into it.
He’s back after a careful rehab, has already logged work in practice, and has appeared in a pair of Mavericks preseason games. But opening night in Houston is a different level of pressure and a different kind of measuring stick, especially with Irving set to share the floor for the first time with Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and new Dallas coach Dusty May.
“I’m really excited, man, really excited, looking forward to the opportunity to just be in Houston, hear my name called out there as well, the state of Texas, it’s a good rivalry game,” Irving said. “And I think it’s a good test for me, just where my body is, first game and going against some high-level competition.”
That word - test - hangs over the night. Irving, a nine-time All-Star, was putting up 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across 50 games in 2024-25 before the injury, and the first question may be less about production than about conditioning. His mention of “where my body is” points to that plainly enough, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dallas eases him in with some minutes monitoring early on.
Irving did get game reps in the preseason, scoring 17 points in a win over the Rockets in Macao and then 18 points in last Friday’s loss to the Hawks. Those outings offered a preview, but they didn’t answer the real question.
Now the regular season starts, and Dallas is trying to leave last year behind. The Mavericks finished with 26 wins, a season they’d like to bury quickly, and Irving is one of the main reasons that reset feels possible.
“We’re 0-0, and we’re going against a good Rockets team, so it’ll be a good test not only for the first game but the first 10 or 11,” Irving said.
The schedule hardly gives Dallas time to settle in. After Houston, the Mavericks visit the Indiana Pacers, host the San Antonio Spurs, travel to the Miami Heat, and then host the Oklahoma City Thunder. The last three are viewed as NBA Finals contenders, which gives Irving exactly the kind of proving ground he says he wants.
“There’s no other way to really look at it when you enjoy the competition at this level,” Irving said. “The best of the best, that’s who you want to see, that’s who you want to go against, and that’s how you want to judge yourself. So I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
In Other News...
Dwight Powells Mavericks Run Is Over And Fans Want Answers
Dwight Powells long Mavericks run has come to an end, and for a player who spent years as one of the more familiar faces on the roster, the timing made the news land with a little extra weight. Dallas waived Powell along with guards Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas, closing the book on a tenure that saw Powell become one of the franchises steadiest presences and a part of multiple playoff pushes.
Dusty May praised Powells professionalism and the way he contributed to the team, which only sharpened the sense that this was a meaningful move rather than a routine roster shuffle. Powell ranks fifth in team history in games played, so any exit like this naturally invites questions about what comes next for the frontcourt and how the Mavericks are shaping their depth chart as they keep moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Make A Surprising Guard Move Right Before Opening Night
Just before opening night, the Mavericks added another young guard to a roster that is still taking shape around rookie Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. Walter Clayton Jr., a former first-round NBA draft pick and the 2025-26 NCAA mens basketball national champion, is heading to Dallas on a two-way deal after his time with the Memphis Grizzlies ended.
The fit also comes with a familiar face. Clayton is reuniting with coach Dusty May, who once recruited him in college, giving the Mavericks a connection point as they keep sorting out the back end of a rebuilding roster. For a team looking for upside and flexibility, Clayton arrives with a fresh opportunity and a chance to make the most of a late move before the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Take A Needed Backcourt Flier Behind Kyrie Irving
The Mavericks added another name to the backcourt mix by bringing in Walter Clayton Jr. on a two-way deal, a move that gives them a little more insulation behind Kyrie Irving. Clayton arrives with a reputation for playmaking and enough promise from his college run to make him an intriguing depth piece, especially for a roster that can never really have too many ball-handlers when the games tighten up.
For Dallas, the appeal is in the possibility, not the certainty. Clayton is still in the early part of his pro career, but the Mavericks clearly see a chance to develop a guard who can handle some point-guard duties and give the team another option when Irving needs help or rest. To clear the way, the front office made a corresponding roster move, underscoring how small margins can be when a team is trying to shore up its bench. [Read more 🡒]