kyrie irving to miss remainder of 2025-26 season, eyes 2026–27 return
The Dallas Mavericks have confirmed that Kyrie Irving will not play again this season as he continues rehabilitation from ACL reconstruction on his left knee. The move clears the way for the veteran guard to prioritize a full recovery and target a comeback at the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Decision and recovery timeline
The team said Irving has made steady progress in his rehabilitation but will delay returning to game action until the fall. Irving, 33, tore the ACL in his left knee nearly a year ago and underwent reconstructive surgery about three-and-a-half weeks after the injury. He missed the final 20 games of last season and did not appear this year while completing his recovery plan.
Irving addressed the decision, calling it difficult but necessary and expressing gratitude to teammates and fans for their support. His agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, emphasized that the priority is for Kyrie to be at full strength when he returns, saying this step is about giving him the best chance to chase a championship next season.
Immediate impact on Dallas and roster context
With Irving sidelined, the Mavericks have leaned into a retooling phase. The team sits near the bottom of the Southwest Division with a 19-35 record entering the post–All-Star break portion of its schedule. Since Irving joined the franchise in 2022-23, Dallas has been 75-53 with him available and 42-75 in games he has missed; those splits underscore the on-court influence the nine-time All-Star brings when healthy.
The club signaled a broader roster reset earlier this month in a blockbuster trade that moved a veteran centerpiece and shifted the roster outlook around younger pieces. With playoff hopes dim and a focus on long-term positioning, there was less urgency to rush Irving back late in the year. Team officials framed the decision as collaborative, balancing medical guidance and long-term competitive goals.
Looking ahead to 2026-27
Medical timelines for ACL reconstruction can vary, and it is increasingly common for players to take a full year or more before returning to unrestricted play. By stepping away now, Irving aims to enter the next season at peak form rather than risk a premature comeback that could hinder his conditioning or availability in a full campaign.
For the Mavericks, the emphasis over the coming months will be on developing younger rotation players and evaluating how the roster shapes up around their core pieces. When Irving does return, the organization will expect him to fit into a plan designed to maximize championship potential, which his agent framed as the ultimate objective.
Fans should anticipate updates over the summer and training-camp period as Irving progresses through late-stage rehab and on-court conditioning. If the recovery continues as projected, the earliest realistic target for his full return will be the opening slate of the 2026-27 season, when he will be counted on to help lead the club back into contention.
For now, Dallas will close out the 2025-26 season without its veteran floor general and use the stretch run to evaluate roster pieces, playing time distribution and roster construction heading into an offseason of clearer direction.
