Veteran guard Kyrie Irving (L) last played for the Dallas Mavericks on March 3, when he sustained a torn ACL in his left knee. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season to recover from ACL surgery, the team announced Wednesday.
Irving, who has not played this season, sustained a torn ACL in his left knee March 3. He had ACL reconstruction surgery March 26.
“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one,” Irving said in a news release. “I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows.
“And I wanted to send a huge shoutout to all of my brothers and sisters out there who’ve torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they love to do every day. Thank you for the inspiration. No fear!”
The nine-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game over 50 appearances in 2024-25.
The Mavericks (19-35), who said Irving will remain “actively engaged with the team,” sit in 12th place in the Western Conference. They will look to snap a nine-game losing streak when they take on the sixth-place Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22) at 7:30 p.m. EST Friday in Minneapolis.
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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
