Dallas Basketball

Mavericks' Jason Kidd reveals positive details on Kyrie Irving's recovery

There are some positive developments in Irving's comeback from injury.
Keenan Womack|
Feb 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) controls the ball against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Feb 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) controls the ball against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

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Dallas Mavericks

The 2024-25 Dallas Mavericks suffered arguably the most heartbreaking season in the history of sports for a multitude of reasons, and one of the most painful moments was the loss of superstar guard and team leader Kyrie Irving to an ACL tear on March 3 against the Sacramento Kings.

Channeling his inner Kobe Bryant, Irving still managed to shoot and make both free-throw attempts after the injury, but he was lost for the season, as things only continued to darken for a seemingly cursed franchise.

READ MORE: Trade proposal sends $118 million guard from Celtics to Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving
Feb 21, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) looks on after he makes a three point shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Of course, much of the team's overall misfortune was self-inflicted, and mostly on the shoulders of GM Nico Harrison. They traded Luka Doncic for a minimal return as well as shipped off Quentin Grimes. They also fired a league-renowned training staff mid-season and replaced them with unqualified personnel, a major cause of the horrific injury problems that plagued the team throughout the back half of the season.

On Monday, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd discussed Kyrie Irving's recovery from the ACL tear on the DLLS Mavs Podcast.

READ MORE: Mavericks cast-offs win NBA award with Knicks

While this is obviously good news, there are concerns that Irving may be rushed back from his injury in the same way that Anthony Davis was upon his arrival in Dallas post-Doncic trade.

Hopefully, Dallas will be more thoughtful in its hiring process for the training staff after several debacles last year, including nearly playing Dereck Lively II on a stress fracture after they misdiagnosed it as a sprain. Though the people responsible for this specific mistake have been fired, fans are rightfully anxious about the direction in which the team is headed from a medical perspective.

Irving will likely return no earlier than January of 2026, and even this timeline is pushing it.

READ MORE: Mavericks among brightest futures after winning Cooper Flagg lottery

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Keenan Womack
KEENAN WOMACK

Keenan Womack is a sportswriter native to Dallas, Texas, who has spent the last 12 years in Austin, the home of his alma mater, the University of Texas. Keenan has covered sports for SB Nation, Bleacher Report, Rivals/Orangebloods, a host of his own sites and now, Fan Nation. Focusing on basketball, Keenan was on the beat for the Longhorns hoops team for the last two-and-a-half years before moving on to pursue other opportunities. He is married and lives with his wife close to the Moody Center, so they can continue to catch games together.