Cooper Flagg is already giving the Mavericks a fresh face, but Kyrie Irving still looks like the heartbeat of the operation.
Dallas rolled past the Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-96, to move to 3-2, and Flagg kept pushing the conversation forward. The 19-year-old finished with 26 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, another night that only strengthened the idea that he belongs among the league’s elite. But as impressive as that was, the most meaningful moment of the night came from Irving, the 34-year-old guard who had not played a home regular-season game since March 3, 2025.
Irving’s return had been building for a while. Reports during the offseason said he and Flagg had been working out together, and Irving also took on a bigger leadership role by putting together a mini camp in California to help the roster bond. The group activities even included beach yoga, a detail that says plenty about how he approached the job of bringing a young team closer together.
That leadership has mattered because Dallas is still trying to sort itself out around Flagg. The team’s early wins have centered on the rookie star, while the rest of the roster is still settling in. Rotations are changing, new pieces are still learning their roles, and consistency is not yet a finished product.
Irving, though, has given Flagg something that goes beyond a hot streak or a box-score boost. The nine-time All-Star has become a real on-court partner for him, and the fit is obvious.
Irving’s ability to command attention, create his own shot, and put teammates in the right spots gives Dallas another player who can take over when the moment calls for it. That wasn’t something Flagg had in his rookie year.
Flagg has clearly welcomed the presence. Even when Irving was out last season, he was still a regular on the sidelines, and that connection has carried over. The veteran’s value to the group goes well beyond points and assists, and his role as the team’s soul and backbone stands even with the baton being passed to Flagg.
Even on a minutes restriction, Irving is still producing: 18.0 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field. But his impact is just as visible when the ball isn’t in his hands. He has been a steady voice on the bench, coaching teammates, offering encouragement, and helping a roster that is still looking for more stability and playmaking.
That’s why his first home game back at the American Airlines Center meant so much. When his name was announced in the starting lineup on October 28, the standing ovation told the story.
It wasn’t only applause for a talented guard. It was recognition of a player who has already built a real bond with the team and the city.
Flagg may be the face of this new era, but Irving remains indispensable to it. Dallas has already lived through one massive franchise-shifting move when it traded Luka Doncic in February 2025, and that history looms over any future decision involving Irving. Before the front office even thinks about another big swing, it has to ask whether moving him would actually make the Mavericks better or just leave another leadership gap that even Flagg’s talent can’t fill right away.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Just Got The Kind Of Praise Mavericks Fans Love
Kyrie Irving picked up a little extra shine from an unexpected source this week, and Mavericks fans will probably appreciate the company. Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg spoke highly of Irving, praising the Dallas guards skill and making clear how difficult he is to contain, a notable compliment for a player who is still working back into form after the torn ACL he suffered in March 2025.
Irvings numbers this season suggest he is finding his rhythm again, as he continues to steady Dallas with 18.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. The timing of Lendeborgs praise is interesting, too, with the Warriors and Mavericks slated to see each other on Nov. 18 and the rookie likely focused on a different Dallas threat in Cooper Flagg, the clubs leading scorer this season. [Read more 🡒]
P.J. Washington Is Changing A Big Mavericks Debate Around Cooper Flagg
P.J. Washington has quickly become part of the answer to one of the bigger early-season Mavericks questions around Cooper Flagg, and not just because of the shooting. Through the opening stretch, Washington has given Dallas a steady blend of finishing, rebounding and defensive versatility, the kind of all-around production that makes lineups with Flagg and Kyrie Irving look far more natural than they did on paper.
What has changed the conversation most is how comfortably Washington is fitting into a role that once felt easy to overthink in Dallas. The early trade speculation around him has cooled as he keeps doing the little things that matter in a rotation built around star talent, and that is where the Mavericks are finding real value. Whether the outside shot holds or not, Washington has already shown enough to remain a significant part of the lineup picture. [Read more 🡒]
Mavs Finally Near A Frontcourt Boost They Desperately Need
The Mavericks are finally getting a little closer to adding a frontcourt piece they have been waiting on all fall. Santi Aldama has been recalled from a rehab stint with the Texas Legends, a notable step for a player who had knee surgery last season and then sat out the preseason and Dallas first five regular-season games after arriving in a summer trade.
Aldama is now preparing for his first appearance in a Mavericks uniform, with his next possible chance coming Friday against the Houston Rockets. Even with that help trending in the right direction, Dallas is still sorting through its frontcourt depth, and Dereck Lively II remains sidelined after foot surgery, leaving the team with one more important question to answer before the rotation feels settled. [Read more 🡒]