Kyrie Irving unveils creative tribute to Mavericks teammate Klay Thompson

Joe Mayo

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Kyrie Irving unveils creative tribute to Mavericks teammate Klay Thompson image

The Dallas Mavericks are awaiting Kyrie Irving’s return to the floor after he suffered a torn ACL in March, but the superstar point guard is still making moves off the court. 

Irving is still recovering from his knee injury and is not expected to return until at least January. However, all signs point toward a full recovery, which will be critical for a retooled Mavericks roster looking to rebound after missing the postseason in the 2024-25 campaign. 

Even without Irving, the Mavericks boast an intriguing roster. They landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selected Duke standout Cooper Flagg, who is likely to start alongside Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively and D’Angelo Russell while Irving recovers.

MORE: Mavericks' Klay Thompson prioritizing team chemistry ahead of 2025-26 season

Kyrie Irving releasing new shoe inspired by Klay Thompson

The Mavericks have been preparing for the 2025-26 campaign and even met up for a team-bonding camp in September ahead of Dallas’ official training camp, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The camp was held by veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson, who was once a longtime rival of Irving’s when they battled as members of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. 

Now heading into their second season as teammates, Irving released his second shoe with ANTA, and he will soon release a colorway that serves as a salute to Thompson. The ANTA Kai 2 “Klay” drops Sept. 26, and according to Sole Retriever, “The design paints Kyrie’s playing style as water and Klay’s as wind.” Thompson, like Irving, is an ANTA athlete.  

Both drafted in 2011, the two stars spent years competing against each other. However, they’ll now aim to lead Dallas to the NBA Finals while sharing the Mavericks’ backcourt. 

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Joe Mayo

Joe Mayo is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. Born and raised in Wisconsin, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024. He’s also a contributor at RotoWire. While Joe primarily writes about the NBA, he also covers the WNBA and MLB.