Kyrie Irving is almost back in the mix for the Dallas Mavericks, and he made sure to send a message to the fans waiting for him.
With the 2026 regular season less than two weeks away, Irving is set to return after missing all of last year because of the ACL tear he suffered shortly after the Luka Doncic trade in 2025. Before getting back on the floor, he reached out directly to Mavericks supporters.
“I want to give a huge shoutout to my MFFL's because we've been very patient and they've been very patient with me. I'm just looking forward to getting back home and playing a few games in front of them, and just getting my feet wet… having that crowd pop again,” he said, per DLLS Mavs on X, formerly Twitter.
Irving’s return also sets up his first season alongside Cooper Flagg, the rising star who won NBA Rookie of the Year last season by narrowly edging former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel.
There has been some outside skepticism about whether Irving still fits the timeline for a Mavericks team that is clearly rebuilding, especially given his age and injury history. But Dallas has not shown any sign that it plans to move him, and the veteran guard has looked like himself in the workout clips that have surfaced over the past several months.
If he gets back to All-NBA level form, Dallas could at least enter the playoff picture in what should be a crowded Western Conference, particularly if Flagg makes the kind of jump many expect - especially with his outside shot.
The Mavericks open the season on October 21 on the road against the Houston Rockets.
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Mavericks May Be Bringing Back A Frontcourt Look Fans Missed
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Daniel Gaffords role will be one of the more interesting things to monitor as the season unfolds. Coach Dusty May has already signaled that the big man may be encouraged to shoot when the opportunity is there, and the preseason performance only adds to the possibility that Dallas could feature more stretch size than it has in the past. [Read more 🡒]