Kyrie Irving’s return has already put him back in the center of the conversation, and this time the praise is coming from two of the game’s sharpest minds.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is back on the floor after missing the entire 2025-26 season with an ACL injury, and he has wasted no time looking like himself again. Through five games, he’s given Dallas a strong pairing with Cooper Flagg and put up the kind of production that reminds everyone why he’s long been viewed as one of the league’s elite guards.
But the conversation around Irving went even further on a recent episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast, where LeBron James and Steve Nash both weighed in on just how special he is. Nash didn’t hold back.
“I feel like Kyrie’s maybe the most, probably the most skilled player to ever play our game,” Nash said. “Just the breadth of skills, handling, shooting from all angles, finishing … he can play a long time just on that.
But I think what makes him special is he’s one of the best movers … his quickness, his change of direction, deceleration, his ability to control his body air whether that’s shooting or finishing. Special, special athlete.”
James agreed with that assessment of his former teammate, with the two sharing a championship run together in Cleveland in 2016 after the Cavaliers erased a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
On the stat sheet this season, Irving has been as efficient as ever. He’s averaging 21.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals in a little over 28 minutes per game, while shooting 52.7 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 100 percent from the free-throw line.
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For Dallas fans, the surprising part is how the conversation veered straight into the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers and the lingering frustration around it. The officer offered his own strong take on the deal and also brought up the Mavericks coaching choices around Doncic, turning an otherwise routine police clip into another reminder of how much that transaction still hangs over the franchise. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Be Feeling Better About This Top 10 Pick
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Against Sacramento, Johnson offered another reminder of why Dallas liked his upside, showing off the kind of defensive versatility and toughness that can translate quickly at the NBA level. He also appears to be settling in well next to Cooper Flagg in a complementary role, and while there is still plenty of development ahead, the early signs suggest the Mavericks may have found a useful piece rather than just a long-term project. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Gafford Is Forcing A Mavericks Rethink In The Paint
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The front office has already made one clear call by keeping him around, and the timing matters with the frontcourt still dealing with injuries. Gaffords defense and reliability have given Dallas a steadier answer in the paint than it might have expected a few months ago, and his play has reopened the larger question of how the Mavericks want to build around their bigs once the roster is healthier. [Read more 🡒]