Former Duke guard Kyrie Irving won't play in the NBA this season.
Former Duke star Kyrie Irving tore his left ACL last NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks. There were rumors that the former Blue Devil could play for Dallas this season.
However, Irving will not return in 2025-26.
"This is about Kyrie being 1,000% when he comes back and giving himself the best chance to chase a championship next season," Irving's agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, told ESPN's Shams Charania.
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.
"This decision wasn't easy, but it's the right one," Irving said in his statement. "I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows.
"And I wanted to send a huge shoutout to ALL of my brothers and sisters out there who've torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they love to do every day. THANK YOU for the inspiration. No fear!"
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.
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