Earlier this week, Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks worked out a new contract that will keep the star guard in Dallas for the foreseeable future. Now looking ahead to the 2026 campaign, one insider revealed when the former No. 1 pick hopes to be back in action.
Though Irving had a lot of off-court controversy hanging over him when he arrived in Dallas in 2023, he's managed to get his career back on track. He proved to be a reliable running mate for Luka Doncic and did a fine job leading the charge when the superstar guard was traded in February. However, things took a turn for the worse for Irving in March when he suffered a torn ACL.
Following this devastating injury, Irving now finds himself sidelined for an extended period. Now that the offseason is officially underway, one insider touched on a possible return timeline for the Mavericks All-Star.
During an appearance on First Take Thursday, insider Shams Charania discussed the Mavericks with Stephen A. Smith after they secured Cooper Flagg in the NBA Draft. He ended up speaking about Irving briefly, stating that he is aiming for a return in January or February.
"I'm told the Mavericks are not going to be rushing him back," Charania said of Irving. "Personally, he's hopeful and targeting a January, February period."
"Nico Harrison has built arguably the best front line in the NBA."
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 26, 2025
—@ShamsCharania after the Mavs drafted Cooper Flagg pic.twitter.com/xO6E9imRvE
While Irving is a focal point for the Mavericks offensively, taking time with his recovery is the proper course of action. If they want any chance of fulfilling their championship aspirations, they'll need him to be 100% physically.
In the meantime, the Mavericks will have to find a short-term option to fill the void left by Irving in the backcourt. Nico Harrison and the front office are sure to prioritize this need heading into free agency.