Dallas Mavericks: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

NBA Notes: Mavericks, Kyrie Irving, Sixers, Cam Payne, Hawks

Kyrie Irving will not return this season, the Mavericks announced. Irving continues to make what the team described as steady progress in his recovery from ACL reconstruction on his left knee, but the decision has been made to hold his return until next season.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Mark Cuban says NBA should embrace tanking and focus on game affordability instead

Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban has publicly argued that the NBA should accept tanking as a legitimate team-building strategy, stating that the league’s focus should instead be on game affordability and fan experience.

Dallas Mavericks News / Total Pro Sports / February 18

NBA Insider Claims Two Team Owners Believed Draft Lottery Was 'Obviously Fixed' After Mavericks Result

Pablo Torre is on a generational run lately. After revealing a bizarre incident involving the Memphis Grizzlies owner, the NBA insider has been working extra hours to dig deep into the Dallas Mavericks’ draft lottery pick for Cooper Flagg.

Anthony Edwards News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NBA All-Star MVPs' quiz

How many of the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award -- officially named the Kobe Bryant Trophy in 2020 -- in the three-point era (1979-80) can you name in five minutes?

The 'Most made three-pointers by NBA season' quiz

The '2025-26 NBA All-Stars' quiz

The 'NBA Slam Dunk Contest winners' quiz

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 23 best NBA players with exactly one All-Star appearance

The NBA is a league built on the backs of its stars. Every now and then, guys in the NBA will raise their play to All-Star level, and sometimes, that run only lasts for one season.

Kyrie Irving News / Field Level Media / February 18

Mavericks G Kyrie Irving sidelined until 2026-27 season

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will not play this season as he continues to recover from knee surgery, the team confirmed Wednesday. The nine-time All-Star, who had surgery last March to repair a torn left ACL, is expected to return in 2026-27.

NBA News / Yardbarker

20 NBA superstars who carried awful teams the farthest

Good players tend to succeed in the NBA. Sometimes, though, they find themselves in terrible situations but still find ways to over-achieve. These are the 20 players who carried the worst NBA teams.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Receiving leaders by NFL season' quiz

The 'NBA All-Star MVPs' quiz

The 'Multiple 20-assist NBA games' quiz

The 'Daytona 500 winners' quiz

Kyrie Irving News / Hoops Rumors / February 18

Kyrie Irving speaks out after Mavericks officially end his season

Star guard Kyrie Irving won’t make his return from an ACL tear this season.

Kyrie Irving takes a swipe at ESPN

Mark Cuban weighs in on tanking: 'The NBA should worry more about fan experience'

Pacers president asks fans if they would embrace tanking

Sacramento Kings dealt major blow with Domantas Sabonis injury

Franz Wagner out indefinitely as Magic's playoff hopes take hit

NBA News / EssentiallySports / February 18

Mark Cuban Caught Lying Over Luka Doncic After Sending Tanking Advice to NBA Teams

If anyone wants to see a manifesto on tanking in the NBA, they need to go to Mark Cuban’s posts on February 17, 2026. The self-sabotage phase of the NBA is back but this time the critics aka the fans aren’t here for it.

Mark Cuban News / Hoops Wire / February 18

Mark Cuban: NBA shouldn’t punish tanking teams

Mark Cuban is among those who think the NBA might be fighting the wrong battle. The former majority owner of the Mavericks says the league should embrace tanking, not punish it, and believes the fan experience is the most overlooked part of the conversation.

Dallas Mavericks News / Total Apex Sports / February 17

The 2026 Season May Be the Dallas Mavericks’ Worst This Century

This season might be the Dallas Mavericks’ worst campaign after the year 2000. Here’s why, so you can make an informed decision on the matter. To say the Dallas Mavericks are struggling this season is an understatement.

Cooper Flagg News / Dallas Mavericks on SI / February 17

Mavericks Get Depth For Cooper Flagg in Mock Draft

The Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the number one overall pick in this year's NBA draft, and he is expected to be a cornerstone for the franchise moving forward.

Dallas Mavericks News / Yardbarker / February 17

Mark Cuban weighs in on tanking, state of the NBA

Mark Cuban weighs in on tanking: 'The NBA should worry more about fan experience'

Tanking has been a hot topic around the NBA this season.

Pacers president asks fans if they would embrace tanking

Gambling concerns could be inspiring NBA's anti-tanking efforts

Commissioner Adam Silver facing growing criticism from NBA analysts

Anthony Edwards sparks rumors with his cryptic message to Jalen Johnson

Kyrie Irving takes a swipe at ESPN

Dallas Mavericks News / Athlon Sports / February 17

Cooper Flagg's Injury Diagnosis Leaves Mavericks Feeling 'Relieved'

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flaggmissed the team's showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers last week and was absent from the NBA Rising Stars game on Saturday due to a left midfoot sprain.

Dallas Mavericks News / NBA Draft on SI / February 16

NBA Draft: Mavericks Jump, Grab Talent in Latest Mock

Amid All-Star break, there’s been plenty of NBA Draft talk as teams reposition themselves for pick down the home stretch of the season. Dallas was the recipient of lottery luck last season, grabbing Cooper Flagg with just a 1.8% chance to grab the first pick.

Dallas Mavericks News / Yardbarker / February 15

Adam Silver facing growing criticism from NBA analysts

Adam Silver has seemingly been untouchable for quite some time. Not anymore.

Adam Silver addresses tanking, says NBA lottery may be ‘antiquated’

Social media star ruins NBA's Shooting Stars at All-Star Weekend

Adam Silver confirms NBA to discuss expansion next month

The 'NBA 10-block triple-doubles' quiz

Kai Jones News / Hoops Wire / February 15

Kai Jones, Turkish club agree to two-year contract extension

Former NBA big man Kai Jones is sticking overseas. Jones has signed a two-year extension with Anadolu Efes, the team announced. It’s a solid bit of continuity for a player who has spent the past few seasons bouncing between opportunity and uncertainty.

Dallas Mavericks News / Sneakers on SI / February 13

Klay Thompson's Lifetime Sneaker Deal Explained

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson has signed a lifetime contract with the Chinese sportswear brand ANTA. The announcement coincided with ANTA's opening of its first-ever North American flagship store in Beverly Hills on Friday afternoon.

NBA News / Yardbarker / February 13