Kyrie Irving Sends Message on NBA Retirement

The former No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft out of Duke had an emphatic reply to these rumors going into his 15th year in the NBA. Speaking with reporters during media day, he directly addressed retirement.

“I know that there’s going to have be a time where I look myself in the mirror and be honest," he said. "Now is not that time, and it’s a few years away. I’m at least trying to beat some of my predecessors in terms of how long they played, whether it be 18, 19, 20 years, and have my name immortalized in there just to be able to be an example of a guy that continued to get better.”

Whether these plans for Irving come to fruition or not, they are definitely lofty. Only 11 players in NBA history have been able to achieve 20 seasons in the league, including Irving’s idol, Kobe Bryant (via StatMuse). In order to become the 12th player to do so, Irving will have to complete six more years in the NBA; he just re-signed with the Mavericks on a 3-year $118.47 million deal with a player-option in the final season. 

When Will Irving Return From His Torn ACL

Both head coach Jason Kidd and Irving himself stated in their respective press conferences that the rumors that the three-time All-NBA member is ahead of schedule for his recovery from ACL surgery are false. However, there was a video recently released of Irving shooting and hitting deep three-point shots consecutively and looking healthy while doing so. 

He is just under seven months out of his initial tearing of the ligament, so the Mavericks are hopeful he will have the opportunity to impact their season at some point. But for now he is still working his way back for what will be his 15th season.