The Dallas Mavericks are heading into a new season with plenty of moving parts, but the biggest source of anticipation is Kyrie Irving’s return. After missing the entire 2025-26 campaign while recovering from an injury, the nine-time All-Star is finally working his way back, and head coach Dusty May came away from a recent workout stunned.
“I spoke with Kyrie and actually witnessed a workout this morning, and I felt like I left the gym watching Picasso paint a picture,” May stated. “We’ll leave that up to later, but yeah, we’re excited about Kyrie.”
That kind of praise fits Irving’s game. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the most polished and creative guards in basketball, a player whose ball-handling and improvisation can make the floor look like his own personal canvas. Recent workout and drill footage has only added to the optimism around his comeback.
For Dallas, the timing matters. The 2025-26 season was rough, even with Cooper Flagg’s impressive ROTY campaign. The Mavericks finished 26-56 and went through major roster changes along the way, leaving the franchise in rebuild mode as it looks ahead.
That said, Irving gives the team a very different kind of ceiling. As the primary point guard, he remains the engine of the offense and the club’s top scoring threat. If he can stay healthy, he should have a real chance to help swing a few games Dallas’ way and give Flagg a veteran creator to learn alongside.
Still, the expectations need to stay grounded. The West is deep, and as the roster stands, a playoff push looks unlikely. Irving also hasn’t played in well over a year, so there will be a ramp-up period before he finds his rhythm.
Even so, the upside is obvious. Irving’s career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game point to the kind of offensive fireworks Mavericks fans can expect once he settles back in.
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Warriors Beat Mavericks As One Rookie Suddenly Has Fans Talking
The Mavericks ran into a lively Summer League test Friday as Golden State pulled away for a 101-90 win, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was one of the main reasons the Warriors kept control. Lendeborg filled the box score with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, giving Golden State a versatile presence that made the game feel more like a showcase for his all-around game than a simple July exhibition.
For Dallas, the result was another reminder that Summer League nights can turn quickly when a young player starts dictating the action on both ends. Lendeborg talked afterward about where he wants to keep improving, and the Warriors still have three games left in Las Vegas, starting with Oklahoma City next, which means there should be more chances for him to keep drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Frontcourt Squeeze Could Force A Painful Move Before Camp
The Mavericks frontcourt logjam got even tighter after the addition of Santi Aldama, a move that adds another versatile big to a group already packed with forwards and centers. Dallas also used the draft to bring in Morez Johnson Jr., and the rookies strong Summer League showing only sharpened the sense that there are more bodies than clear minutes when camp opens.
With so many players chasing the same rotation spots, the next decision may come down to subtraction rather than addition. The front office has room to keep sorting through the mix before training camp, and the pressure is now on to decide which pieces fit the long-term picture and which veterans might have to be moved to make the roster workable. [Read more 🡒]