Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the season as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.
The nine-time NBA All-Star tore the ACL in his left knee last March and has not featured at all during the current campaign.
Dallas confirmed on Wednesday that the 33-year-old is making progress but will not return before the end of the season, with the focus now on a full recovery ahead of 2026-27.
In a statement, the Mavericks said Irving is making “steady progress in rehabilitation and will remain actively engaged with the team through the remainder of the season.”
His agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, explained the long-term approach behind the decision.
“This is about Kyrie being 1,000% when he comes back and giving himself the best chance to chase a championship next season.”
There remains hope he could resume practice before the season concludes to begin rebuilding on-court chemistry, particularly alongside highly rated rookie Cooper Flagg, although he will not be cleared for competitive action.
Irving also issued a message to supporters while confirming his focus is firmly on returning next year.
“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one. I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows.
“And I wanted to send a huge shoutout to ALL of my brothers and sisters out there who’ve torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they love to do every day. THANK YOU for the inspiration. No fear!”
Irving has been an influential figure when available since arriving in Dallas during the 2022-23 season, with the Mavericks holding a strong winning record when he plays compared to their results without him.
The franchise, however, is currently in a difficult position, sitting 12th in the Western Conference with a 19-35 record after the All-Star break.
Dallas also signalled a shift in direction earlier this month by trading Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a major multi-player deal as they reshape the roster, a year after trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for the guard.
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