Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving will miss the remainder of this season as he continues to rehab his ACL injury, the team announced Wednesday.
“The decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one,” Irving said in a statement. “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.
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“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!”
Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, told ESPN: “This is about Kyrie being 1000% when he comes back and giving himself the best chance to chase a championship next season.”
Irving hasn’t appeared in an NBA game for nearly 12 months. His last game with the Mavs was on Mar. 3 of last season, in a loss against the Sacramento Kings, 122-98. He played just over nine minutes during that game, scored seven points, and then suffered a season-ending knee injury.
In 2024, the Mavs advanced to the NBA Finals on the backs of Luka Dončić and Irving, and it looked like Dallas would be a Western Conference contender for the foreseeable future. Two years later, Dončić is a Laker and Irving is approaching an entire year without touching the hardwood.
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When Irving does return next season, he’ll be heading into his 15th NBA season at age 33. The former No. 1 overall pick has been a phenomenal player and one of the best point guards in the league for well over a decade, despite his injury history. Irving is a nine-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.