HoopsHype ranked Mavericks star Kyrie Irving 16th among NBA point guards for 2026-27 after his missing all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL.
DALLAS - HoopsHype ranked Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving 16th among NBA point guards entering the 2026-27 season. He has not played since March 3, 2025, after tearing his left ACL against the Sacramento Kings.
Irving was sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season after it was determined in February that this was the best course of action. Despite landing Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Mavericks struggled to get by without Irving. They traded Anthony Davis as injuries continued to be an issue. A lot has changed since Irving's injury.
By the time the regular season begins, he will have been away from the NBA for a year and seven months. The Mavericks' preseason matchups against the Houston Rockets in October will offer Dallas their first opportunity to see Irving and Flagg play together.
Last season, Dallas finished 26-56. Flagg, who won Rookie of the Year, took on significantly more ball-handling responsibilities than expected by the front office. Masai Ujiri currently oversees basketball operations, with Mike Schmitz as general manager and Dusty May starting his first NBA season as head coach. Meanwhile, Irving rejoins a franchise that has seen its president, general manager, coach, and key player change since his last game with them.
The ranking secures his status as a perennial All-Star and shows Irving's skills aren't reliant on elite athleticism. He fits well with Flagg as a co-star, and Dallas has many talents to support both.
With Klay Thompson absent, Dallas still features P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Max Christie, and Caleb Martin on the wing. Dereck Lively II is recovering from season-ending surgery, while Daniel Gafford and Moussa Cissé continue to compete at center. The team added Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea through the draft, and acquired Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser, and Tarik Biberović via trade.
Irving's health is the top priority. He discussed his knee during a Twitch stream in late May, 15 months after his injury.
"I am definitely close to being over at 100%," Irving said.
Schmitz pointed to Irving's work with Flagg and the rest of the roster during the rehab.
"He's been doing everything humanly possible," Schmitz said.
Irving will earn over $39.4 million this season. He has one year left on the contract, plus a player option for 2027-28. Dallas will need to decide on a plan for Irving, since he can decline the option and enter free agency next summer.
Luka Dončić, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers three weeks before Irving's injury, ranked second on the list. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took the top spot, with Dončić in second, followed by Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, and Tyrese Maxey. Fred VanVleet, Kingston Flemings, Andrew Nembhard, and Davion Mitchell narrowly missed qualifying.
No other Dallas guard made the 27. No Maverick appeared on the HoopsHype shooting guard list published Aug. 28.
Dallas opens the regular season on Oct. 21 at Houston. The home opener is Oct. 24 against San Antonio.
