Kyrie Irving is back on the floor, back in the mix, and already thinking about what comes after basketball.
The former Duke star missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but he is set to return for the Dallas Mavericks this year as the team tries to get back into the postseason picture in the Western Conference. Irving has built a long NBA résumé since leaving Duke in 2011: nine All-Star selections and one championship.
At 34, though, the conversation around him is no longer just about what he can do next season. It’s also about how much longer he wants to keep doing this at all.
Ahead of the start of the NBA season, Irving opened up about retirement and the way he sees the league now compared with the one he entered. He said the NBA isn’t the same as the version he fell in love with, pointing to social media and sports gambling as part of that shift. He made clear, though, that it was “not a bad thing,” just his own observation.
Irving also said that since coming into the league, he has become “less human” and “more robotic”. That kind of blunt self-assessment fits a player who has never been shy about speaking his mind. Over the years, Irving has drawn criticism for that honesty, but he has kept leaning into it while putting a premium on his own well being.
All of that makes the near future feel pretty clear: Irving doesn’t sound like someone planning to play into his 40s. The next few years figure to matter most, and this season gives him a chance to show he still has plenty left.
Dallas will need it. The Mavericks are pairing Irving with another former Duke player, Cooper Flagg, in hopes of being more competitive this time around.
The West is expected to be loaded again, but Dallas believes it has a strong core if it can stay healthy. Irving’s role will be huge, both as a scorer and as a veteran presence the team can lean on.
The Mavericks open the 2026-27 NBA season on October 21 on the road against the Houston Rockets. Their home opener comes two nights later, on October 23, against the Indiana Pacers.
In Other News...
Dukes UNC Snap Counts Raised A Few New Lineup Questions
Dukes narrow 24-20 loss to North Carolina came with a few lineup clues tucked inside the snap counts, and they added another layer to a game the Blue Devils spent much of the afternoon chasing after an early hole. Pro Football Focus numbers showed transfer Javen Nicholas getting a season-high 11 snaps and hauling in two passes, a sign the staff kept searching for ways to get him involved as the offense tried to find answers.
On the other side of the ball, veteran Kimari Robinson opened at nickel cornerback with Evan Smith out, a move that gave Duke a different look in the secondary. There was also a bit of juggling at running back, where Nate Sheppard handled most of the workload despite dealing with a lower-body ailment, while backup CJ Campbell saw only limited action, leaving a few more questions for the Blue Devils to sort through after a tight rivalry game. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Suddenly Has One Big Problem Heading Into Virginia
Dukes early momentum has given way to a bumpier stretch, with the Blue Devils now sitting at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in ACC play after back-to-back losses, including the defeat at North Carolina. The recent review of the roster points to one area in particular that has become hard to ignore, as the passing game has not looked as sharp as it did when Duke was stacking wins earlier in the season.
As Virginia comes into focus, the concern is not just about the losing streak but about whether Duke can get the offense back to a steadier rhythm before league play tightens further. The position-by-position breakdown suggests there are still pieces in place to work with, but the next step will be finding more consistency where the Blue Devils have recently struggled most. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Loaded Roster Just Got One Clear Message Before Opening Night
Floridas return to the top of the preseason AP Top 25 puts an early spotlight on the heavyweight tier Duke is already standing in. The Gators checked in at No. 1 with 47 of 59 first-place votes, their first preseason No. 1 spot since 2006, while Duke landed at No. 2 and Illinois at No. 3 after both also drew first-place support. For a Blue Devils roster that has already been getting plenty of attention, the message before opening night is simple: the respect is real, but the runway to prove it starts now.
For Duke, being slotted just behind the nations top-ranked team only sharpens the stakes around a group built to be watched closely from the opening tip. Preseason polls do not decide anything, of course, but they do set the tone, and this one places the Blue Devils firmly in the middle of the championship conversation before a game has been played. The question now is whether all that early belief turns into the kind of season that matches the buzz. [Read more 🡒]