Kyrie Irving Promises To 'Kick Some Butt' in Mavericks Return From ACL Tear

DALLAS - Kyrie Irving said Friday he has no restrictions heading into training camp with the Dallas Mavericks, which opens Saturday under first-year coach Dusty May.

Media Day was held at American Airlines Center, the same building where Irving tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on March 3, 2025. He drove against the Sacramento Kings, drew a foul from DeMar DeRozan, and landed awkwardly after his left foot clipped Kings center Jonas Valančiūnas.

That was his last regular-season game. Irving missed the rest of the 2024-25 season, and Dallas ruled him out for all of 2025-26 in February.

He still expects regular conversations with the medical staff about back-to-backs and where he stands day to day.

"I think the biggest learning lesson was what does patience look like when you really want something," Irving said. "I really wanted to be on the court, but I still had to learn what patience felt like and giving my teammates grace. We had a lot of young guys, including Cooper, that have a world of talent, but need that guidance and need that leadership and I felt like I tried to fill in that void as much as possible."

"But now as we sit here and we have our team set, we have our coaching staff set," Irving continued, "I'm really confident that we're going to be able to do great things and we're looking forward to bringing the best out of each other. That player/coach role was fun. I enjoyed it, but I think I'm ready to go out there and kick some butt."

Before the injury, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 2024-25. He shot 47.3% from the field and 40.1% from 3-point range. Less than a month before he got hurt, he played in his ninth All-Star Game.

He re-signed with Dallas in the summer of 2025 on a three-year, $118.5 million contract. It pays him $39.5 million this season.

His name ran through trade speculation for most of the offseason. Two weeks before Media Day, Irving hosted a four-day minicamp in California, and May was there with his assistants.

Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, has never played an NBA game alongside Irving. Dallas drafted him first overall in June 2025, less than four months after the injury.

"Kai is one of those guys playing alongside that I feel like he just makes it easy to play with him," Flagg said. "Obviously, he's one of the greats of our game. He's an incredible talent, but I think that, combine with his personality, makes it really easy to sit next to and play with."

"I think the time that we've been able to spend in the summer on the court together has been really good for both of us to kind of build that connection, so I'm really excited," Flagg added. "Obviously, having someone like that out there on the court with you at all times is going to be amazing."

Flagg is 19. On April 3, he scored 51 points against the Orlando Magic, setting the NBA's all-time scoring record for a teenager.

Irving, 34 and heading into his 16th NBA season, put no blame on anyone for the load he carried before the injury.

"Being away from the game of basketball, just to put it in perspective for you, my injury is probably the best thing that happened to me," Irving explained. "I was obsessively looking at the craft of basketball and playing the majority of minutes. I didn't think I probably would [have been] honest, about a year ago or two, about how I was feeling physically, but it was a lot of weight on my shoulders. It's no blame to go around."

"I think we fell short of our goal," Irving detailed, "and last year gave me a lot of time to reflect on where do I want to be as a player, but most importantly where do I want to be as a man, how can people look to me to be a better leader, a better communicator, be more emotional[ly] vulnerable and also taking the approach of acting like my age, finally."

Dallas finished 26-56 without him last season. That record landed the ninth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which the Mavericks used on Morez Johnson Jr., who played for May at Michigan.

The front office turned over after Dallas fired general manager Nico Harrison and coach Jason Kidd. Masai Ujiri took over as team president, Mike Schmitz became general manager, and May was hired from Michigan the day before the draft, after winning the 2026 national championship there.

"Kyrie has seen and done as much as just about anyone in the association," May said. "I would expect that I'm only going to coach him when I'm able to add value instead of just trying to just say things and do things, because I anticipate he'll be able to see directly through that."

"It's just like any relationship," May added. "You build it organically, you help people get better and you pour into them and hopefully you have the right answers at the right time and you're able to put together the pieces to the puzzle."

Ujiri said Irving is right there in terms of health, though he has not yet played a competitive NBA game.

"Kyrie has had a great, great summer," Ujiri said. "From day one when I stepped into this gym, just his attitude, I think everybody talks about it from his time here in Dallas, and I saw nothing but that. He's working out, being present, dialogue, everything that we've hoped with Kyrie."

"I have had a previous relationship with Kyrie, which makes it a little bit easier," Ujiri noted. "But he's been nothing but a leader."

Naji Marshall signed a contract extension with Dallas on Aug. 2. He averaged career highs of 15.2 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 74 games last season.

"Kai is Kai," Marshall said. "I'm glad to see him moving the same. He's still better than anybody in the gym."

Irving had a few setbacks during the rehab, stretches when he expected to rejoin his teammates and instead had to come off the court and rest.

"It is a year later from me having a traumatic injury, but I feel like I've gotten better as a person and now it's the foundation and everything else following," Irving said. "I feel great out there."

"I think you guys have seen a few videos," Irving continued, "but it won't really do it justice until I'm out there playing in Macao or playing in front of the fans here, which I know I'm just as excited as the fans are."

Dallas opens the preseason Oct. 9 against the Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena in Macao, with tip-off at 7 a.m. CT. The teams play there again Oct. 11.

The regular season opens Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT in Houston. The Mavericks' home opener is Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. CT against the San Antonio Spurs.