Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in March. He last played in an NBA game on March 3, 2025, against the Sacramento Kings.
During the 2024-2025 NBA season with Dallas, he averaged 24.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.5 BPG, and 1.3 SPG. Irving also shot 47.3% from the field. The 33-year-old point guard declined his $43 million player option and signed a three-year $119 million deal in the offseason. When is the Mavericks point guard projected to return for the 2025-2026 NBA season?
There is No Timetable for Dallas Mavericks PG Kyrie Irving to Return
Many Mavericks fans are wondering when Irving is going to return to game action potentially. Well, it appears as if Dallas fans are going to have to wait. According to Cody Taylor of therookiewire.usatoday.com, he said in his Mavericks depth chart projections for the 2025-2026 season,
“The team will be without Irving to begin the season after sustaining a torn ACL in March. Although there is no timetable for his return, Irving recently stated that he is making good progress in his rehab and is able to do “a little bit more in the gym.””
With Irving not projected to be ready to begin the 2025-2026 season, it appears as if D’Angelo Russell is going to be the starting point guard for Dallas in the meantime for head coach Jason Kidd. Dante Exum will most likely be the backup point guard for the Mavericks.
Is there also a chance that Kidd could potentially play rookie Cooper Flagg at point guard with Irving out? There is a chance that it could be a possibility, but Russell is more than capable of being the starting point guard for Dallas until Irving comes back.
The Mavericks will have four preseason games before the 2025-2026 NBA season begins. Dallas will begin the season on October 22 at home against the San Antonio Spurs. With no timetable for Irving’s return, the team is not going to rush him back and don’t expect him to return potentially until later in the season.
More NBA: Warriors predicted to acquire Celtics guard, new splash bro next to Curry
