Kyrie Irving is shutting down retirement talk and focusing solely on his return for the Dallas Mavericks. The star guard, entering his 15th NBA season and fourth in Dallas, spoke at training camp after missing the entire 2025-26 campaign with a knee injury. Irving is now fully healthy and determined to lead a revamped Mavericks squad that recently posted a 149-128 win over the Chicago Bulls on April 13, though their form in the last five games is 1-4.
Irving acknowledged the constant questions about his career timeline. "I feel like I’m going to be asked that question a few times throughout the year," he told reporters. He stressed his focus is on the present, not the future. "I wish a lot of that was under my control, but I think it’s a collaborative effort here," Irving said. His immediate goal is giving the Mavericks his best after reconstructive surgery on a torn left ACL suffered in March 2025 sidelined him. At 34, he has no physical restrictions heading into the new season.
Motivation is sky-high for Irving. He wants to prove he remains among the NBA's elite players. "I’m ready to go out there and kick some butt," Irving said via the Associated Press. He knows critics are waiting. "This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type of league, and everybody wants to see it up close," he added. Irving's last full season in 2024-25 saw him average 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists alongside Luka Doncic. The landscape has changed dramatically since then.
Everything is different for Irving in Dallas. The team is now coached by Dusty May and led by general manager Masai Ujiri. Irving is expected to be the veteran voice in the locker room, potentially mentoring 19-year-old franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg. He'll share the floor with a formidable frontcourt of Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. Versatile forwards like P.J. Washington, Santi Aldama, Naji Marshall, and camp invitee Dwight Powell add depth. The perimeter was bolstered by additions like Max Christie, Caleb Martin, Zaccharie Risacher, and guard Marcus Sasser.
The team's form has been inconsistent as they integrate new pieces. Following their high-scoring 149-128 victory against Chicago on April 13, they dropped a close 112-107 decision to the Phoenix Suns on April 9. Before that, they suffered heavy losses to the Milwaukee Bucks (123-99 on April 1) and the Golden State Warriors (137-131 on March 24). A 129-111 defeat in New Orleans on March 17 and a 130-120 win in Cleveland on March 15 round out their recent results. Fans can track the team's progress on our schedule page.
Irving's mindset is clear. He's embracing the challenge of a new era in Dallas. "I think my focus is just continuing to develop, continuing to put my best foot forward with these guys," he stated. He doesn't shy away from fair criticism of his time with the franchise. For now, retirement chatter is background noise. The immediate task is lacing up his shoes and showing everyone he's still got it.
