Former Duke star Kyrie Irving dropped a major update on his injury status for the upcoming NBA season.
Former Duke Blue Devils star Kyrie Irving is ready to go for the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
After missing all of last year due to a torn ACL, Irving has worked hard to get to this point where he feels ready for game action. Irving has been sidelined for 19 months, spending all his time dedicated to getting back on the court.
But now the veteran guard is good to go, and he dropped the big injury update on Friday. Irving said that he is ready to kick some "butt" for the Dallas Mavericks, and he wants to prove any doubters wrong.
Due to his age, 34, some have speculated that Irving could look like a shell of his former self, especially coming off the brutal injury. But the guard is ready to show out on the court, reminding everyone in the NBA who exactly he is.
The former Duke star has been one of the best players in the NBA since he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2011. Irving has won an NBA title, while making nine All-Star teams over his career.
Irving understands why people are doubting his return, but the veteran wants to use this as fuel to play even better. Dallas missed Irving on the court last season, and he will now take over the reins alongside another former Duke star, Cooper Flagg.
The duo of Irving and Flagg could be special for the Mavericks, giving them a chance to compete in the loaded Western Conference. While Irving is older, he has plenty of experience playing alongside a player like Flagg due to his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James.
Flagg has gotten some comparisons to James entering his second season in the league, making the duo even more interesting. Irving's game should complement Flagg well, offering the Mavericks one of the better scoring duos if the star guard is healthy.
Dallas will have its hands full with the West, but the roster around the two stars can work very well. The Mavericks believe that they can be a playoff team this season, and Irving will have a lot to say about how the year goes for them.
All in all, this is excellent news for the Mavericks and the NBA as a whole, since it's a more fun league with Irving healthy. And all the Duke faithful will be tuning in to root for their former star, seeing if he can get back to his All-Star level this season.
