Kyrie Irving Injury Update
Kyrie Irving, the Dallas Mavericks' star guard, has been sidelined since tearing his left ACL in March during a game against the Sacramento Kings. The nine-time All-Star underwent surgery and has been grinding through rehab ever since, missing the entire start of the 2025-26 season. But the good news is rolling in he's way ahead of schedule and showing serious fire to get back on the court. MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) shared on X that Kyrie Irving is working out with the intention of playing this season, and someone close to him mentioned that if it were the playoffs, he could play right now.
Senior NBA insider Marc J. Spears dropped a bombshell update just hours ago: "Kyrie’s looking good, he’s ahead of schedule... He’s working out to play this season." A source close to Irving went even further, saying, "If it were the playoffs, he could play right now... That’s ahead of schedule, he is." Irving's been hitting individual drills, shooting sessions, and full workouts without any reported setbacks, building on his September comments where he called the recovery "incredibly well."
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd echoed the optimism earlier this month, hinting at a sooner-than-expected comeback: "We just can’t wait to get Kai back, at some point. Hopefully it’s in the year of ’25, not ’26. We’ll see what happens, but I think those two will be a perfect match in the backcourt." That lines up with the injury's typical nine-month timeline, putting a potential return around late 2025 remarkable for an ACL tear.
The projected timeline? Optimists point to late January 2026 for clearance, though it won't be an instant jump back into games. Irving and the Mavs' medical team will huddle for a "collective decision" on whether suiting up makes sense, especially with Dallas sitting at 4-10 and fighting for playoff positioning. No firm date yet, but the buzz is electric Irving's averaging 24.7 points last season, and his return could flip the script for the Mavs' backcourt duo with Flagg.
Disclaimer:
This injury update on Kyrie Irving is based on the latest official reports and media statements as of November 2025. Recovery timelines for ACL injuries can vary by athlete. Always check with trusted NBA or Mavericks sources for the most current and detailed news regarding player health and return status.
