Mavs' Kyrie Irving Attends Memphis Shootaround; Latest Status vs. Grizzlies

MEMPHIS — As the Dallas Mavericks aim to stay float with Luka Doncic out of the lineup for at least Saturday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the status of Kyrie Irving is an important storyline to monitor.

Irving was not present for Friday's practice due to what Mavs coach Jason Kidd told reporters as being an "excused absence" related to "personal reasons." A few hours later, Irving was listed questionable to play against the Grizzlies due to right foot soreness.

"Kai was out [for Friday's practice]. Excused absence. Personal reasons," Kidd said. "Hopefully he will be able to join us in Memphis."

During the Mavs' morning shootaround at FedEx Forum in Memphis, Irving was among the players in attendance.

Kyrie Irving is among the players at the Mavericks’ morning shootaround.

Jason Kidd told reporters that Irving missed Friday’s practice due to an “excused absence” related to “personal reasons.”

Irving was later listed as questionable to play due to right foot soreness. pic.twitter.com/YMkFOzYulQ
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 11, 2023

Irving told ESPN that he remains questionable to play after playing 41 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this week. He will continue to get recovery throughout Saturday's pre-game process.

"It's unfortunate that I had to play 41 minutes the other night. I didn't come out in the third and the fourth, so it's a little bit of a tweak. ... Doing all I can right now," Irving told ESPN. "Just taking my days and getting recovery in. ... I'm questionable right now [vs. Grizzlies]. I'll do everything I can in the next few hours to get ready for the performance."

Irving explained to ESPN that he had an excused absence on Friday to travel to New Jersey in order to attend the funeral of Najee Seabrooks, an anti-violence activist who was shot fatally by local police. Irving is a New Jersey native with strong ties to his community.

"It's tough already to lose somebody and deal with the circumstances we're in right now," Irving told ESPN. "Just out of respect, I send my blessings to my family. I was there to pay my respects. Right now, there's just a lot going on. It's hard."

Doncic had been playing through his quad injury since the second game after the NBA All-Star Break, but it became too much to bear during the Mavs' loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, His performance cut short after realizing he couldn't keep playing on his weakened leg.

It remains to be seen how long Doncic will be sidelined, but it will be predicated on the discomfort he feels dissipating to an acceptable threshold before being able to do so. In the meantime, Irving's presence is viewed as being an integral part of the Mavs' ability to succeed without Doncic.

“I think when you have someone like Kai, if Luka’s out, we still have the ability to win," Kidd said after Friday's practice. "But we’ve had both of those guys out, or didn’t have Kai when we were in Utah and we found a way to win (124-111). And Utah had won three games in a row.

“Yeah, I think those guys have confidence that — given an opportunity to play — they can find a way to win (without Doncic).”

The Mavs begin the first part of a two-game home-and-home series with the Grizzlies on Saturday. The action turns to the American Airlines Center for a Monday night matchup afterward.

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