Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving on ACL rehab: I’ll be ready when I’m ready

Mavericks star point guard Kyrie Irving made it clear to fans that he won’t be rushing back to the court.

“There’s no timetable for when I’m coming back, so please don’t ask me when I’m coming back,” Irving said during a recent Twitch stream, via HoopsHype. “Please don’t badger me with all the questions like, ‘Hey, if you’re healthy by November, what do you think about it?’

“Please don’t badger me with any questions, guys. I’m going to be ready when I’m ready. I’m taking the necessary steps to put my best foot forward — and I’m enjoying it.”

Irving tore his left ACL in March 2023 during a game against the Kings and underwent surgery later that month. The Mavericks struggled without him (and after the shocking Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers) and ultimately missed the postseason.

“I appreciate you guys being there to support me during my, uh, kind of down times — when I was dealing with my ACL and dealing with not necessarily knowing, okay, whether or not I’m going to be back to where I was at,” Irving said. “Naturally, I have doubt like everyone else. But I was fueled by the next generation even more… I feel like that will, in turn, spark the next brain or inspire the next person. Or inspire some of my ACL twins out there.”

Irving has been making steady progress in his rehab, but the team has yet to set a return date.