Kyrie Irving says the long road back from his ACL tear is over, and the Mavericks guard is not sounding tentative about what comes next.
At Friday’s preseason media day, Irving said he is no longer dealing with physical restrictions after tearing the ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025. The injury sidelined the nine-time All-Star for 19 months, but Irving made it clear he does not see the recovery as a setback.
“I’m ready to go out there and kick some butt,” Irving said. “I know that naysayers or some of the questions around where I’m going to be are going to be inevitable. But for me, I have the confidence of a champion.”
He went even further when talking about the injury itself, calling it “probably the best thing that happened to me” because it gave him time to reflect.
The 34-year-old said the time away from the floor forced him to think beyond basketball, including his development as a person, leader and communicator as he gets ready for his 16th NBA season.
That perspective now comes with a simple test: show it on the court. Irving said he understands the league does not wait around for anyone.
“This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type of league,” Irving said. “Everybody wants to see it up close.”
There was also a positive update from new Mavericks president Masai Ujiri, who said Irving is “right there” physically.
Irving’s comeback is set against a very different backdrop in Dallas after a 26-56 season. Ujiri arrived in May, and former Michigan coach Dusty May was brought in to replace Jason Kidd. He now steps into a roster that includes Irving and reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.
That pairing is one Irving is eager to explore. He said he is excited about the chance to share the floor with Flagg and build something together.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to grow with him,” Irving said. “High-level basketball players, no matter the age - you put us out there, we’re going to win some ballgames.”
After nearly two years of rehab, reflection and waiting, Irving is closing in on the return he has been working toward.
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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 🡒]