DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have faced a tumultuous season, with the latest challenge being a severe blow as star player Kyrie Irving is ruled out for the season due to a torn ACL in his left knee. This development compounds a series of setbacks for the team, which had already shocked fans by trading Luka Doncic.
The official diagnosis came on Tuesday, following an incident during Monday’s game where Irving sustained the injury in a 122-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Despite being hurt, the 32-year-old guard impressively made two free throws while visibly emotional before exiting the game.
During the match, Irving was fouled by DeMar DeRozan. His right foot came down on Kings’ Jonas Valanciunas, causing an imbalance that led to an awkward fall on his left leg, resulting in an apparent hyperextension of the knee.
This injury follows closely behind the Mavericks’ acquisition of 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, who himself suffered a groin injury in his first appearance with Dallas, shortly after the headline-grabbing trade that sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The decision to bring Irving into the fold post-trade was largely based on the belief that his presence could offset the loss of Doncic. Yet, the fanbase has been largely discontent with the trade. Now, Irving will likely remain in recovery through the start of the 2025-26 season. He holds a $44 million player option for the upcoming season.
In the moments following his injury, Irving lay on the court for several minutes clutching his leg. He was later helped off by teammates, including Davis, but insisted on returning temporarily to take his free throws, drawing parallels to the grit shown by the late Kobe Bryant during a similar scenario in 2013.
“I asked him on the way off if he wanted to shoot. He’s a tough competitor,” reflected Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, recognizing Irving’s determination. “He opted to take those shots, and then we got him out.”
The absence of Irving introduces significant challenges for the Mavericks in maintaining their postseason ambitions, as they currently hold 10th place in the Western Conference, right on the fringe of play-in eligibility.
Just nine months prior, Irving and Doncic had spearheaded the Mavericks’ journey to the NBA Finals, a feat the team had not accomplished in 13 years. Facing elimination from playoff contention this year, Dallas is perilously close to joining a short list of teams that have missed postseason play following a finals appearance.
Irving stepped in as an All-Star reserve this season, with his performance boasting an average of 24.7 points and a 40% success rate from beyond the arc.
The Mavericks’ injury woes also extend beyond Irving and Davis. Notable absences include centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. Additionally, P.J. Washington Jr. has been dealing with an ankle injury, and backup guard Jaden Hardy also exited Monday’s game with an ankle sprain.
“It seems like every time someone gets better, someone else goes down. We’re running low on players,” Kidd lamented, expressing the ongoing frustration for the Mavericks.
