Mavs Coach Dusty May Speaks Out On Critical Kyrie Irving 'Partnership'

Dallas Mavericks coach Dusty May is 49 and brand-new to the NBA ... but he just demonstrated he is capable of some sage wisdom when it comes to supervising Kyrie Irving, who is 34 as he enters his Year 16 in the league.

"It,'' May said, "is a partnership.''

Bingo.

There are other coaches who would look to dictate direction while flexing their muscles. That, it seems, will not be May's style ...

And good for the Mavs.

Said the coach: "Kyrie has seen and done as much as just about anyone in The Association. And so 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.”

May, who coached Michigan to the 2026 national championship and a 37-3 record before Dallas hired him in June, often preaches "authenticity.''

As he said, "I think me being my authentic self is the best way to get buy-in from any player.''

And yes, for this program to succeed? Getting a "buy-in'' from Irving - a nine-time All-Star and an NBA champion who has a famously strong personality - is critical.

Irving will return to the floor with "no restrictions,'' he said, after tearing the ACL in his left knee March 3, 2025. ... and missing all of the action since that time.

How's that going? May recently said watching Irving work is like watching "Picasso.''

As it happens, Irving spent last season sort of "coaching'' from the bench. With May's new staff now in place, Irving is speaking up about the positive feeling he has for that group.

“Now as we sit here and we have our team set, we have our coaching staff set, really confident that we’re gonna be able to do great things,” Irving said. “And looking forward to continue to bring the best out of each other.”

Irving has yet to team on the floor with the Mavs' budding superstar, 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, who seems completely sold on the new leadership.

“It’s been incredible,” Flagg said. “Obviously, Dusty has an incredible knowledge of the game and you can tell that he’s really a student and really studies the game. So it’s been really cool to kind of learn from his perspective and the way he sees the game ...''

And how he sees Irving, we might add. 

“It’s just like any relationship,” May said. “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 of the puzzle.”