Kyrie Irving has completed a 19-month rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, the 34-year-old Dallas Mavericks point guard confirmed. The nine-time All-Star suffered the injury on 3 March 2025. He now returns to the court without a single medical restriction and has no intention of entertaining the doubters. "I know that naysayers or some of the questions around where I'm going to be are going to be inevitable," Irving said. "But for me, I have the confidence of a champion."
Last season ended with a dismal 26-56 record. Against that backdrop, new club president Masai Ujiri appointed Dusty May as head coach. May arrives as the reigning NCAA champion, the title that crowns US college basketball. Irving will open his 16th NBA season alongside Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year. Dallas begin their preseason against the Houston Rockets with two games in Macau, China, on 9 and 11 October.
