Kyrie Irving knows exactly how different things feel in Dallas now.
The Mavericks he joined in 2023 are gone, and so is the version of Irving that arrived then. Three years, a trip to the NBA Finals and an ACL surgery later, both sides appear to be in a much better place than they were before.
That doesn’t mean the noise around Irving has disappeared, though. He’s heard the trade talk, he understands the questions, and he knows the Mavericks are moving into a new era with Cooper Flagg at the center of it.
Even with all that, Irving wants to stay put.
At the team’s first day of training camp practice over the weekend, he spoke plainly about where he stands with Dallas and what the organization means to him. “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,” Irving said.
That kind of loyalty matters here, especially after everything Dallas has been through - the Luka Doncic trade, the firing of Nico Harrison, and back-to-back seasons without a playoff appearance after reaching the NBA Finals in 2024. Irving has stayed steady through the churn. He knows the roster is younger now, he knows the team is building with a different timeline, and he’s willing to live inside that reality.
That makes him more than just a name on the roster. It makes him the kind of veteran the Mavericks need.
Sergio De Larrea called Irving the “perfect” teammate to learn from during Media Day, and that tracks with the way Irving has handled his role. Last season, he was a key voice for Brandon Williams from the sideline, and Williams’ growth showed it. Williams posted a career-high 13.0 points per game, and Irving’s advice helped him sharpen parts of his game by picking up on Irving’s tendencies.
This season, Irving’s influence should stretch even further. Dallas has four rookies on the roster, and most of the team is 25 years old or younger. That gives him a clear lane as the veteran leader, a role he seems built for at this stage of his career.
Young players grew up watching him, and now they get a version of Irving shaped by experience, championship success, and years spent on teams that didn’t always go anywhere. He’s still a star, but he’s also someone younger teammates can approach, trust, and learn from.
And on the court, the Mavericks need him just as much.
Dallas’ guard depth is thin, and Dusty May will be leaning on Irving for shot creation, shooting, and ball-handling. At 34, he remains a featured part of the team, and the Mavericks will need that skill set as they try to rebound from a 26-win season.
The West may not look like the place for Dallas to overwhelm anybody right now, but Irving still fits. He can be Cooper Flagg’s co-star.
He can be the stabilizing veteran. He can be the guard the Mavericks missed last season.
The trade rumors aren’t going away on his say-so alone. But everything else about the fit still points the same way: Dallas is the right place for Kyrie Irving.
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 🡒]