Kyrie Irving to Miss Remainder of 2025–26 Season as Recovery Continues

The Dallas Mavericks will move forward without one of their veteran leaders for the rest of the season.

The team announced that guard Kyrie Irving will not return to game action during the 2025–26 NBA season as he continues rehabilitation from ACL reconstruction surgery performed in 2025. Irving has made what the organization described as steady progress but will prioritize a full recovery timeline rather than a late-season return.

Irving initially suffered the ACL tear during the 2025 calendar year, an injury that required reconstructive surgery and a lengthy recovery process typical for some of basketball’s most demanding movements—cutting, accelerating, and changing direction at full speed. ACL rehabilitation often spans nine to 12 months or longer depending on the athlete and the demands of their sport, and the Mavericks have taken a measured approach with one of their franchise cornerstones.

Despite the setback, Irving has remained a visible presence around the team throughout the season, participating in meetings, workouts, and film sessions as part of his recovery and leadership role. The Mavericks said he will continue working closely with the team’s medical and performance staff for the remainder of the season.

“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one,” Irving said in a team statement. “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.

“And I wanted to send a huge shoutout to ALL of my brothers and sisters out there who’ve torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they love to do every day. THANK YOU for the inspiration. No fear!”

Irving’s absence removes one of the Mavericks’ most dynamic offensive creators and a veteran voice in the locker room. Since arriving in Dallas via trade in 2023, the eight-time All-Star has been central to the team’s identity, providing scoring, playmaking, and late-game shot-making that helped shape the Mavericks’ offensive structure. His experience and leadership have also been important for a roster that has shifted toward youth in recent seasons.

While Irving will not return to the floor this year, the organization has emphasized that his long-term health remains the priority. ACL injuries have become more manageable with modern surgical techniques and rehabilitation programs, but teams across the NBA have increasingly opted for caution when it comes to star players returning late in a season without full recovery.

Staying Involved Off Court

Irving’s continued involvement around the team is expected to play a role in maintaining continuity as the Mavericks evaluate their roster and development trajectory heading into next season. Younger players have taken on expanded responsibilities in his absence, and Irving has often been seen offering guidance during practices and on the bench.

For Dallas, the announcement provides clarity. Rather than targeting a late-season comeback, the focus now shifts to ensuring Irving is fully prepared for the 2026–27 campaign.

The guard’s message reflected both patience and perspective—an acknowledgment of the physical and mental challenge that comes with a major injury and a belief that the time away will ultimately strengthen his return.

For now, the Mavericks and their fans will have to wait. But if Irving’s track record has shown anything, it’s that his game has long been built on resilience, creativity, and reinvention. The next chapter will begin when he’s fully healthy and back on the floor, on his timeline.