Kyrie Irving is back in the Dallas Mavericks’ lineup, and with his return comes the kind of trade chatter that seems to follow him everywhere in the NBA. But Irving isn’t interested in feeding the noise.
In comments to ESPN’s Tim McMahon, Irving pushed back on the endless speculation that tends to orbit him and other players around the league. He said, “This is all transparent here,” before stressing that the Mavericks aren’t trying to spin stories for the media.
He added that when people ask, he’ll answer honestly, but he also knows Dallas has a young group in the locker room. “I'm not trying to bring any B.S. into the locker room - my name in the trade [rumor] mill or other guys in the trade [rumor] mill as well.”
Irving also made clear that the rumor cycle can do real damage. “There's too much of that in this league.
There's way too much of that, and it affects people's mental health. It affects people's day-to-day jobs.
In order to get the best team possible that you want to see out there, we need everybody rowing in the same direction.”
The guard has only recently gotten back on the floor after 18 months away while recovering from an ACL injury. He has played three games for Dallas this season and is averaging 19 points, 3.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.
Even with the business side always looming, Irving said his focus remains on the Mavericks and on what comes next with the group around him. “I wish it was under my control, but I think it's a collaborative effort here,” Irving said.
“I'm mature enough to understand that … You see that there's a disparity in age [between Flagg and me]. Everybody likes to make a big deal out of it.
… Every fair criticism that [has been] brought to this franchise is fair. I'm never going to shy away from that, either.
But my focus is just continuing to develop, continuing to put my best foot forward with these guys. When we're out there on the court, just have fun.
When we say have fun, we're trying to compete at the highest level. We're trying to win.”
Dallas is back in action tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In Other News...
Cooper Flagg And Kyrie Irving Are Setting A New Mavericks Tone
A year after a 26-56 finish sent the Mavericks into a round of front office and coaching changes, the early return has been as much about tone as talent. Cooper Flagg is off to a strong start in his second season, and he has already pointed to a healthier atmosphere around the team, one centered on winning and competition rather than the drift that too often accompanied last season.
Kyrie Irving has helped shape that message, too, by making it clear he is committed to Dallas despite the trade talk that tends to follow a star in his position. Mavericks president Masai Ujiri has publicly backed him, and head coach Dusty May has emphasized Irvings leadership, giving the franchise a veteran voice to go with Flaggs rise. The bigger question now is how long this new balance can hold, especially with so much attention still attached to the names at the center of it. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Just Got A Kyrie Twist That Changes This Cooper Flagg Debate
The Mavericks long-running question about how to balance the present and the future may be getting a new layer. Dallas is being linked to possible Kyrie Irving trade discussions as the front office weighs what it wants the roster to look like around Cooper Flagg, the young centerpiece who could shape the next era. Irving remains one of the biggest names on the team, so any conversation about moving him changes the tone of that debate immediately.
Now there is another wrinkle to follow, with Miami emerging as a team worth watching in this picture. Both sides appear to be monitoring the situation, and there is no imminent decision or trade on the board yet, but the possibility of a move gives Dallas a very different set of options as it thinks through the Flagg timeline. For a team trying to define its next identity, Irvings situation suddenly feels like one of the most important moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Zaccharie Risacher Is Giving The Mavericks Something They Suddenly Need
Zaccharie Risacher has quickly started looking like more than just a useful depth piece for Dallas. Early in the season, he has given the Mavericks a real jolt on the defensive end, and his energy has stood out enough that teammates and coaches have taken notice. For a team that has needed more reliable two-way help off the bench, that kind of activity has become a welcome development.
Risacher has also looked more comfortable on the offensive end, especially when spotting up and letting his catch-and-shoot chances come to him. That progress matters because it gives Dallas a cleaner path to keeping him on the floor, not just as a hustle player but as someone who can fit into the rotation without hesitation. The bigger question now is how far that growth can go, and how the Mavericks choose to lean into it as they sort out their bench going forward. [Read more 🡒]