Kyrie Irving isn’t running from the mess in Dallas. He’s leaning into it.
That much was clear Saturday, when Irving explained why he still sees the Mavericks as the right place for him even after a season that pushed the franchise from title hopes into rebuild mode. At 34, with plenty of reasons to look elsewhere, Irving instead sounded committed to staying put and helping guide what comes next.
“I was talking with my family about this yesterday,” Irving said, via Kevin Gray Jr. “Just reminiscing on kind of the change in the last few years and how it’s impacted me and how it’s impacted just Dallas in general and just fandom. And I’m not going to shy away from saying it’s been a little chaotic at times, inside the locker room as well as outside the locker room… I think we all kind of just had to reset.
“New faces being around here, a lot of guys that just want to come in and do the right thing, and I think I’m right on board with that,” Irving continued. “I’m in love with this place just because of how welcoming it was, not just from the franchise aspect, but also the fans. Lot of support around the city.”
That kind of appreciation carries weight when you remember where Irving was before he landed in Dallas in February 2023. He had taken heavy criticism for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and for appearing to promote a film that had been labeled anti-semitic. Brooklyn was ready to move on, and the Nets sent the problem to the Mavericks.
Dallas, though, welcomed him. Irving hasn’t forgotten that reception.
“I just feel confident that whatever we’re putting on the floor this year, we’ll do to the best of our ability,” Irving said. “And we’re building something.
I’m not sure what exactly that looks like; again, I’m just going to be honest about it. But I think I’m just kind of turning the page and just looking forward to building something new.
“Having these guys rally around each other and rally around them,” Irving continued. “They lean on me for leadership, I lean on them for energy, and vice versa. And we just kind of put the past where it is and honestly reminisce when it’s time to do that, but makes sense of it moving forward is just having the kind of that championship mindset that whatever we face, we could deal with.”
There’s also a basketball reason Dallas wants this relationship to keep going. The Mavericks reportedly don’t want to trade Irving, and they want him alongside Cooper Flagg. After everything that’s happened, Irving still looks like a veteran they value.
He also appears set for a comeback after a long layoff. Irving tore his left ACL in March 2025 and has not played since. He has said there are no restrictions now, which makes his return one of the more interesting storylines heading into the next campaign.
Before the injury, he was rolling. In 2024-25, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game for Dallas and made the All-Star team.
If he gets back to that level, the conversation around him could change fast. More teams will be interested, and Dallas may eventually face bigger decisions. For now, though, Irving sounds content to stay right where he is and help build whatever the Mavericks become next.
In Other News...
Mavericks Camp Suddenly Has One Big Santi Aldama Question
Training camp has already brought a fresh layer of uncertainty for the Mavericks, and it starts with Santi Aldama. The big man has been limited as he works his way back from an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in March, leaving Dallas to manage his involvement day by day while the medical staff controls how much he can do on the floor.
Dusty May has been careful not to force the issue, but he has made clear what Aldama could add once hes fully available: a versatile center who can help stretch defenses and open up lineup options. That kind of fit matters for a team also sorting out roles around Daniel Gafford, rookie Morez Johnson Jr. and the rest of camp, which is why Aldamas status has quickly become one of the more important things to watch as camp moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Bring Back Dwight Powell And Now A Tough Call Awaits
Dwight Powell is officially back in Dallas, adding another familiar veteran presence to a roster that already looks full on paper. The Mavericks have been working to keep him in the fold, and league sources say the commitment to bring him back comes with the expectation that the front office will keep looking for ways to make it work.
For now, the issue is less about Powells fit than the mechanics of fitting him in. Dallas already has a crowded standard-contract situation, so the next move will have to come from somewhere else on the roster, and that leaves the Mavericks weighing a decision they would probably rather avoid this late in the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Rookies Already Face Two Very Different Early Tests
One rookie is easing back into the mix while another is already in the middle of a long adjustment project. Morez Johnson Jr., the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has been limited in practice because of left calf soreness, though he is close to returning to full participation. For a Mavericks team trying to sort out roles and rhythm early, his availability matters, especially with the club pushing a faster pace this season.
Sergio De Larrea, taken No. 25, has taken a different path so far. The guard has been leaning on veteran Santi Aldama and assistant coach Willie Green as he learns how NBA defenses are treating him and works to sharpen the finer points of his game, all while adjusting to a tempo that fits with his EuroLeague background. The two rookies are facing very different early tests, but both are part of the same larger question for Dallas: how quickly can this class start looking ready? [Read more 🡒]