He isn't cleared to play yet, but 9-time All-Star Kyrie Irving is still influencing the Dallas Mavericks for the better.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving is still not cleared to return to the floor following his torn ACL surgery from March, but the future Hall of Famer remains a regular presence on the Mavs' bench during games imparting his veteran wisdom and encouragement onto the team.
Head coach Jason Kidd - a Hall of Fame point guard himself - has commended Irving's unwavering positivity, even in the face of a grueling recovery and compounding losses to start the season.
"It's hard to be out for this length of time," Kidd said at practice this week. "He's been extremely vocal, but his energy has been so positive. It's good to see him on the sideline being that 'player coach'".
Dallas is among the hottest teams in the Western Conference as of late - including winning over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday to make it five victories over the last six games - and much of that production has come with the Mavs getting better play out of their active point guards: young playmakers Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams.
Nembhard carries an incredible story into his new position as the eminent starting point guard of the immediate future. The undrafted rookie is averaging 8.2 points and 4.8 assists - the latter stat leading all rookies this season. In his last 10 games as he's earned increased minutes, that production has raised to 11.4 points and 6.6 assists a night.
“I think I’m definitely on the scouting report now, for sure,” Nembhard said ahead of the Nets win. “But we’ve got so many good players that I’m sure [the opposing team’s] attention is more on those guys than me, but definitely there’s a little more attention on me."
Nembhard finished with zero points on Friday, but tallied five assists in a flourishing Mavericks offense that totaled 33 helpers overall - tied for the second-most in a game this year. First-overall pick Cooper Flagg led the team with eight.
The influence of Kidd and Irving is easily comparable to the playing style of Nembhard and Willams, with the former preferring a pass-first conduction of the motion while the latter best attacks with sharp ball-handling and nifty finishes at the basket.
Kidd recognizes these unselfish traits in Nembhard, because he was once a floor general who played similarly.
“I can relate to that, looking at what he does,” Kidd said. “But guys have said this since training camp that they enjoy playing with him.
“His calmness, his understanding of the game, his IQ is on display, so I think watching him play is fun - find the open guy and keep it simple. He’s playing the game the right way.”
Likewise, Irving is regularly seen working alongside Williams at practice, often showing him dribble combos and ways to get around defenders as an undersized guard who prioritizes speed.
Williams lost his starting role to Nembhard as Kidd was searching for something to click on an offense that ranked at the bottom of the league in efficiency to begin the year. Through it all, the former two-way point guard remains steadfast in his support of the current one.
“Ryan is nice, I’m not going to lie,” Williams said. "The opportunity is right there in front of him. ... I told him when he has the opportunity he has to take it and take full advantage of it, and he’s doing that and some. All of us are supporting him and he’s doing a good job for us.”
Dallas is 10-16 on the season and sit in 10th place in the West, teetering on the edge of the Play-In tournament in the current standings.
Irving could potentially return to the floor in the next month, but for now, he and Kidd will continue imparting their wisdom on the young point guards that have led the Mavericks into their best stretch of the season.