Kyrie Irving Sends Message After NBA Offseason Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Jun 20, 2026 12:19 PM ET

Kyrie Irving has not played since tearing the ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025, an injury that cost him the rest of the 2024-25 season and the entire 2025-26 campaign.

Irving has been working toward a return in 2026-27, and there’s heightened expectation that he will help the Dallas Mavericks bounce back from a disappointing finish last season. The Mavericks managed only 26 wins and ultimately missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

With reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg now in Dallas, Irving’s return has become perhaps the most anticipated moment for the franchise entering next season.

As Irving prepares for his 14th NBA season, he took a moment on Friday to acknowledge one of the defining moments of his career. 10 years ago, Irving, alongside LeBron James, helped the Cleveland Cavaliers achieve the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, securing the franchise’s first championship.

Several members of the Cavaliers’ 2016 championship team reunited in Europe to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the franchise’s title run, but Irving was not part of the gathering. While his absence from the reunion did not go unnoticed by fans, he marked the occasion on Instagram, posting about the anniversary of Cleveland’s historic championship.

“All for one. One for All. WE completed the mission together as brothers, and that’s all that matters to me.”

View this post on Instagram

Irving played a crucial role in that title run. Against the Golden State Warriors, he averaged 27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 46.8% from the field and 40.5% from three.

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He scored 41 points in Game 5 alongside James, then delivered 26 points and the biggest shot of the series in Game 7: a late three-pointer over Stephen Curry that helped seal Cleveland’s 93-89 win.

Irving’s relationship with Cleveland has been complicated since he requested a trade in 2017. But his place in Cavaliers history remains secure.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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