The Dallas Mavericks could break up the Kyrie Irving-Cooper Flagg Duke duo.
Former Duke star Kyrie Irving didn't play last NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks, as he was recovering from a left ACL tear.
Irving will play this NBA season alongside former Duke forward Cooper Flagg, who won the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
However, Flagg's time with Irving could be short, as ESPN's Tim MacMahon believes Irving could be a prime trade target for contenders at the 2027 NBA trade deadline if the Mavericks are struggling.
"Teams across the league are intrigued by how, or if, the 34-year-old Irving fits in the Mavericks' long-term plans as the franchise prioritizes building around its teenage prodigy," MacMahon wrote. "A healthy Irving, who has averaged 25.5 points and 5.1 assists per game in a Mavs uniform, could be a prime target for contenders before the trade deadline if new Dallas president Masai Ujiri is willing to engage in those discussions."
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, Flagg and Dereck Lively II. Mike Krzyzewski likely watches a lot of Dallas games in his free time.
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.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in his lone season at Duke. The Maine native's best game in college was against Notre Dame on January 11, 2025. He had 42 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Flagg appeared in 70 games during his rookie season with the Mavericks. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 46.8% from the field, 29.5% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the free-throw line.
