Mark Cuban Reveals if He Expects Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving to Play Next Season

Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving is expected to miss a chunk of the 2025-26 NBA season recovering from his left ACL tear.

Irving tore his left ACL on March 3 at home against the Sacramento Kings. He recently said on his stream that he doesn’t know if he’ll play in the 2026 postseason.

However, former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban would be shocked if Irving doesn’t play next season.

“Yeah, I do,” Cuban said on Sirius XM NBA Radio. “Yeah. I mean, he’s gonna be careful, but it’s Kyrie, man. He lives to ball and he’s not gonna take time off if he doesn’t have to.”

Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season in 50 games for the Mavericks while shooting 47.3% from the field, 40.1% from beyond the arc and 91.6% from the free-throw line. He turns 34 on March 23, 2026. 

A future Hall of Famer, Irving agreed to a three-year, $119 million contract with the Mavericks this offseason. Dallas drafted Cooper Flagg with the first pick in this year’s draft, so the franchise now has Irving, Flagg, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson. 

Irving has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks. He’s a nine-time All-Star with career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists. 

Irving helped the Cavaliers win the 2016 championship against the Golden State Warriors. He hit the game-winning shot in Game 7 over Warriors guard Stephen Curry. 

The Mavericks missed the playoffs last season after making the NBA Finals in 2024. They shockingly traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis and Max Christie. 

Dallas signed D’Angelo Russell in free agency. Russell will start at point guard until Irving returns.

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