Kyrie Irving was waiting to provide an update on his potential return. The Dallas Mavericks said it would come after the All-Star break. And it’s here. According to Shams Charania, the prolific scoring guard will miss the entire 2025-26 season to give additional time for recovery from tearing his ACL almost a year ago. There’s a reason behind that.

Even in a prior update, KAI emphasised what he is waiting for before returning to the court. He wants to be “150% healthy”. That means being risk-free, fully confident, and playing with freedom. The reason behind his taking as much time to fully heal from surgery is his strong desire to deliver for the Dallas Mavericks.

His stepmother and agent Shetallia Irving told ESPN, “This is about Kyrie being 1000% when he comes back and giving himself the best chance to chase a championship next season”.

It underscores the 9-time All-Star’s devotion to the Dallas Mavericks. At 33, Kyrie Irving suffering an ACL tear, sparking concerns about his future. The best course of action to retain his best seems to be taking his time. With years of accumulated wear and tear, the human body takes longer to recover. Likewise, a major injury requires caution. And there has been no urgency from the Dallas Mavericks’ side for their star guard’s return.

Head coach Jason Kidd has always emphasised a safe approach with Irving. Furthermore, their team is currently benefiting from having Cooper Flagg operate as the cornerstone. It’s led to stellar development of players such as Naji Marshall and Max Christie. With a younger group, the team’s playoff aspirations have slipped. The Mavs also traded star big man Anthony Davis, further erasing the need to rush Irving back on the court.

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The best course of action is to let the season play out. It allows the Mavericks to grow confidence in their core group while giving Kyrie Irving a safe path to his NBA return.

Kyrie Irving speaks out to the Mavericks fans

Oftentimes, it’s the hunger to contribute that forces players to go the extra mile during rehab. Jayson Tatum, albeit much younger, is practicing with the Celtics’ G-League team. He could return this season as the Celtics sit at the two seed. Similarly, Kyrie Irving sees the Mavericks struggling. Hence, he revealed “this decision wasn’t easy”.

But he has vowed to return at his best and strive to meet the Mavericks’ championship expectations.

“I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows,” he said, according to Marc Stein.

The Mavericks have also been clear on their end. They were open to trading most of their roster, barring Kyrie Irving. Tim MacMahon said they didn’t even entertain calls inquiring about a possible trade involving Irving. They are aligned in the mission to deliver a championship in Dallas for the first time since 2011. Waiting gives them the best chance, with Flagg already showing strong potential in his rookie season.

The NBA will miss witnessing Irving’s majestic performances during the season. But he is preparing to unleash his best when he returns next season.