Report: Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving could return after All-Star break

The Mavericks are saying very little publicly about Kyrie Irving. Privately, the picture appears clearer.

According to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal, there has been no indication Irving will be shut down for the season. The more realistic expectation, as of now, is a return sometime after the All-Star break. 

Irving tore his ACL on March 3, 2025. The Mavericks’ first game after the All-Star break comes Feb. 20, just short of the 12-month mark. No one is calling that a target date, but it explains why patience remains the prevailing theme.

Dallas sits 12th in the Western Conference at 14-25, and the difference since Irving went down has been stark. Since March 4, the Mavs are 21-38.

Irving’s on-court work has shown progress, Afseth reports. He has been participating in full workouts, moving fluidly and changing direction without hesitation. That does not mean clearance is imminent. It does mean the rehab is moving forward.

Irving has been consistent in his messaging.

“No timeline is going to be perfect,” he said earlier this season. “Just take your time.”

That remains the plan.

Meanwhile, uncertainty continues elsewhere, as Afseth noted. Anthony Davis is still weighing options for ligament damage in his left hand, with no decision yet on surgery.