Kyrie Irving says he’s nearly 100 percent as Mavericks rave about leadership

Irving added that the lengthy recovery process has allowed him to focus on rebuilding his body while preparing for the next stage of his career.

“At this age, I feel like the game is slowing down, but also I’m able to do more out there just more efficiently,” he said.

Those comments come as new Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz praised Irving’s impact behind the scenes, particularly with No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.

“Being around that every day, combined with everything he’s done to get to this point, gives us a ton of optimism alongside his fit with Cooper,” Schmitz said.

Schmitz also pointed to Irving’s leadership around the organization.

“To see the way he pours into Cooper and pours into the rest of the guys, it’s May 29 and there’s a level of buy-in that is really impressive,” Schmitz said.

The Mavericks are expected to build their future around Flagg, but it appears Irving remains a major part of those plans.

And according to both Irving and the organization, he’s getting closer to full strength every day.