The Miami Heat could have interest in Kyrie Irving if the Mavericks decide to explore the market for the former Duke guard, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
That possibility comes with a lot of moving parts. Irving did not play last NBA season in Dallas while he recovered from a left ACL tear, but he is set to return this year and share the floor with another Duke product in Cooper Flagg, who won the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award. Even so, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon has said Irving could become a prime trade target for contenders at the 2027 NBA trade deadline if the Mavericks are not in good shape.
Irving’s Duke résumé was short, but it was loud. He played only 11 games in the 2010-11 season and still put up 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 52.9% from the field, 46.2% from three and 90.1% at the line.
His top moment came against Michigan State on December 1, 2010, when he scored 31 points and added six rebounds and four assists in Duke’s 84-79 win. Duke finished that season 32-5 before falling to Arizona in the West Regional Semifinal, and Irving averaged 17.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in the NCAA Tournament.
That burst was enough for NBA scouts. Cleveland took Irving with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, and he went on to play for the Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks. He won the 2016 NBA championship with LeBron James in Cleveland and remains one of the most accomplished Duke players ever to reach the league.
Dallas now has three former Blue Devils on the roster: Irving, Flagg and Dereck Lively II. Mike Krzyzewski likely watches a lot of Dallas games in his free time.
Irving enters the season with career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in the regular season and 23.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the playoffs. He averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game in 2024-25 before the ACL injury.
Flagg, meanwhile, arrived in the NBA after one season at Duke with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. His best college performance came against Notre Dame on January 11, 2025, when he piled up 42 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
As a rookie with Dallas, Flagg played in 70 games and averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 46.8% from the field, 29.5% from deep and 82.7% from the free-throw line.
In Other News...
Dukes Fast Start Is Fueling A Respect Debate Fans Hate
Dukes fast start has only intensified a familiar conversation around the program and its league: how much respect is enough, and who is willing to give it? After winning the ACC title a year ago, the Blue Devils have opened this season well enough to draw attention in the AFCA poll, a sign their momentum is being noticed somewhere, even if the broader national picture still feels stuck on the same old doubts about the conference.
The issue, as it so often is with ACC teams, comes down to proof. The leagues reputation has been battered by the perception of chaos at the top and inconsistency across the board, and Dukes next stretch will matter far more than its early glow. To force its way into the AP conversation, the Blue Devils likely need to do more than keep winning the games they should, with stronger conference opponents standing as the real test of whether this start turns into earned respect. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Eget Keeps Getting Overlooked As Duke Stays Unbeaten
Walker Eget has done his part to help Duke start 4-0, throwing for 721 yards with six touchdowns and just one interception through four games. Even with those numbers, he still seems to be slipping under the radar nationally, which is a little strange for a quarterback guiding an unbeaten team into the heart of ACC play.
The latest reminder came in ESPNs quarterback rankings, where Eget landed well down the list even as Duke keeps winning. The broader takeaway was familiar: the Blue Devils have leaned on a strong defense and the steady production of Nate Sheppard, and now the real question is whether Eget can show enough growth once the schedule stiffens and the pressure starts to rise. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Looks Ready Again But The ACC Wont Make This Easy
Duke enters the new ACC season with the kind of profile that usually turns preseason optimism into real pressure. The Blue Devils have the look of a program built to contend again, with a roster that blends continuity, size and enough experience to make them a clear reference point as the league sorts itself out. In a conference that still has plenty of credible challengers, that matters because every top-end game will be a test of whether Duke can turn talent into week-to-week consistency.
Virginia, Miami, Louisville and North Carolina all bring their own reasons to believe they can stay in the race, whether that means returning scorers, roster additions or changes on the sideline. But the bigger question for Duke is how much margin it can afford when the ACC schedule starts tightening. The Blue Devils may look the part of a favorite, yet the gap between preseason status and the final standings can disappear quickly once league play begins. [Read more 🡒]