Kyrie Irving isn’t picturing a long NBA runway that stretches into his 40s.
With LeBron James still playing at 41 and set to turn 42 two months into the 2026/27 season, Irving was asked on Monday whether he could see himself following that kind of path. His answer was pretty blunt. The Mavericks guard, now entering his 16th season and turning 35 in March, said he still loves basketball but doesn’t love everything wrapped around the league the way he once did.
“Basketball is an eternal flame,” Irving said. “In terms of the NBA schedule and things of that nature, you have to really be in love with that, too.
The weight lifting. The unseen hours.
The media prep. Just going in and being ready to play at a high level.
Also, you have social media and gambling right now, which is running rampant. It’s not the same NBA I fell in love with as a kid.
“… I don’t see myself playing in the NBA at 42, 43. Shout-out to the head honcho (James) over there still going.
Even Steph (Curry). Klay (Thompson) and James (Harden) and KD (Kevin Durant).
I looked at those guys as big brothers for a while, but now that I’m in this age of 34, 35, I love my manhood and growing as a man more than growing as a basketball player.”
Irving has a $42.4MM player option for the 2027/28 season. If he exercises it, he would be 36 when his current deal runs out.
The Mavericks also had a notable roster change on Monday, waiving Dwight Powell. Irving said the veteran big man will be “severely missed” and noted that Powell “represented a lot here in the city of Dallas,” while coach Dusty May said he wouldn’t be shocked if Powell ends up with another NBA team.
“Look, I’m relatively new to the NBA game, so I don’t know the ins and outs and the calendar with moves and things like that,” May said. “So would I be surprised to see Dwight playing somewhere?
I wouldn’t. He still has some miles in the tank.”
The frontcourt picture is also shifting because Dereck Lively II is still working back from foot surgery. With Powell gone, May said reserve big man Moussa Cisse should get some “game minutes” to start the season.
May also laid out several injury updates before Wednesday’s regular-season opener against Houston. Max Christie, who has a sore foot, practiced Tuesday and will be available.
Tarik Biberovic, dealing with right heel bursitis, did not practice and will be out. Santi Aldama, who is recovering from foot surgery, was a partial participant Tuesday and may not be ready for Wednesday, though May said he’s “getting very close.”
There’s also an early-season role taking shape for first-round pick Morez Johnson Jr. May expects to use the former Michigan standout at both power forward and center. His exact usage could depend on who’s healthy on a given night, but the coach made it clear Johnson has flexibility.
“Right now, injuries at certain positions might dictate where he plays,” May said. “But he’s going to be able to play both and eventually just be an interchangeable piece as he expands his offensive game, because defensively he can guard one through five.”
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 🡒]