Former Duke guard Kyrie Irving apparently looks like his old self.
According to Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., former Duke star and current Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving looks amazing after his ACL tear.
Irving, who didn't play last NBA season, will return to the Mavericks' lineup in 2026-27.
"I was hooping with him yesterday and this is off of his ACL," Porter Jr. said, via Dallas Sports Journal. "That dude was so cold, bro. I couldn't believe how he was moving out there. And he was getting to the lane, there's all footers in there and he somehow was with the left. Bro, it was nutty. It was crazy."
Irving appeared in only 11 games for Duke during the 2010-11 season. He averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 52.9% from the field, 46.2% from beyond the arc and 90.1% from the free-throw line.
Irving's best game for Duke was against Michigan State on December 1, 2010. The talented guard had 31 points, six rebounds and four assists, helping Duke win by a final score of 84-79.
Duke went 32-5 in 2010-11. They lost to Arizona in the West Regional Semifinal.
Irving averaged 17.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in the NCAA Tournament, showing his scoring skills at the highest level of college basketball.
How good was Irving at Duke? He only needed 11 games to show NBA scouts how special he was, as the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Irving with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Irving has played for the Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks in the NBA. He won the 2016 NBA championship with LeBron James on the Cavaliers and is one of the best players in NBA history who went to Duke.
The Mavericks actually have three players who went to Duke: Irving, Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively II. Mike Krzyzewski likely watches a lot of Dallas games in his free time.
Duke fans likely can't wait to see Irving play for the Mavericks again. After all, he's one of the greatest basketball players ever.
Irving enters next season with career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in the regular season and 23.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the playoffs. The 2016 NBA champion averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game during the 2024-25 season before tearing his ACL.
