Spanish sensation Sergio De Larrea eyes a mentorship under Dallas’ resident artist, hoping to master the veteran’s leadership style before eventually inheriting the keys to the Mavericks’ backcourt.
DALLAS - Kyrie Irving is Picasso.
And Sergio De Larrea is about to grab a brush.
Since being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2023, Kyrie Irving has developed a reputation as a respected locker-room leader and beloved teammate, all while remaining one of the most skilled players the NBA has ever seen.
Just ask Mavericks head coach Dusty May ... who compared watching Irving work out to “watching Picasso paint a picture.”
At 34 years old, though, Irving’s future in Dallas will eventually require a difficult decision.
And a dazzling rookie could accelerate that timeline.
De Larrea has turned heads with his play at the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The 20-year-old Spanish guard’s crafty performances have reflected the influence of his childhood idol, Luka Dončić.
De Larrea's court vision and passing ability have led to suggestions that Dallas should start the summer sensation as a rookie.
That may be going too fast.
First, it makes sense that the 6-6 guard De Larrea serve as a pupil with Irving as a teacher - and the youngster wisely sees it that way.
What's the first thing the kid wants to ask the vet when they hook up? about the first thing he's going to ask Kyrie Irving once he's able to meet him.
"Above all, about leadership, how he leads the team in his area of the game," De Larrea said via Mundo Deportivo. "He's a great leader, not just as a player, but as a person. I want to learn how he does those things in such a complicated and competitive environment."
In the meantime ...
While it's unlikely he'll crack May's first five on opening night, De Larrea certainly looks comfortable for his age and should become a starter eventually.
The No. 25 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (by the Lakers, then traded to Big d) may eventually become both the catalyst for Dallas to move on from Irving and its answer for how to replace him.
Irving holds a $42.4 million player option for the 2028-29 campaign and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent the following summer, making him 37 years old when the Mavs are no longer contractually tied to the nine-time All-Star.
By the time that decision arrives, De Larrea will be entering his fourth NBA season and — based on what we've witnessed in Vegas — should be ready to inherit a much larger role if he hasn't already by then.
Of course, that assumes Irving remains in Dallas for the next three seasons.
If De Larrea continues along his current trajectory, the Mavericks may eventually have to entertain trade conversations involving Irving rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency.
The 2016 NBA champion’s veteran presence remains valuable, but Dallas will also have to weigh that value against Irving’s age, eventual expiring contract and the importance of De Larrea’s development.
If the rookie proves ready for an expanded role ... the Mavericks’ difficult decision could arrive much sooner than expected. And the irony is that Irving the Teacher will be faced with the job of helping to make it happen for de Larrea the Pupil.
