Kyrie Irving is already thinking about the finish line, and he made it clear Monday that it probably won’t come with him still running point in his 40s.
The Dallas Mavericks guard said the modern NBA no longer feels like the league he grew up loving. When he spoke about where the game stands now, he pointed directly to forces he says have changed the experience around it.
“You have social media and gambling which is running rampant and it’s not the same NBA that I fell in love with as a kid and I’m very much aware of that… Basketball is an eternal flame, it always will, but i don’t see myself playing in the nba at 42, 43,” Irving told the media.
That was the clearest sign yet that retirement is part of Irving’s thinking, even if it still sounds distant. Based on his own estimate, he may have as many as six years left in his NBA career, though he could always step away sooner.
For Dallas, the timing matters. The Mavericks have spent the offseason sorting through roster questions under new management, with the hope that the group can still be good enough to push for a playoff run. One of the biggest summer questions has been Irving’s future, and he said he wants to keep competing in Dallas.
“I'm not gonna shy away from saying it's been a little chaotic at times, inside the locker room as well as outside…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…We're building something…Having that championship mindset that whatever we face we can deal with," Irving said.
Dallas has also made it a priority to keep Irving and Cooper Flagg together for now. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst wrote, “Ujiri has made it clear that the franchise is committed to keeping Irving with Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the star point guard," and added, "Rival front offices question whether Dallas can stick to that plan with roster holes elsewhere and the two stars on different career timelines."
Irving’s latest comments only sharpen that conversation. His future in Dallas remains part of the team’s larger offseason picture, especially with his contract set to expire. For now, though, he’s still talking like a player who wants to keep building.
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