Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Kyrie Irving helping Mavericks prep for a brighter future

By Trae Williams | Last updated Nov 19, 2025 4:13 PM ET

Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving has been out due to an ACL injury suffered last season.

Irving has still been involved with the team, though, mentoring the young players on the Mavericks. This includes No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and a promising young guard in Brandon Williams.

Irving's mentorship will help both players develop now and in the future, in hopes that they can be the next young duo in the NBA to take the Mavericks back into contention for an NBA championship.

Kyrie Irving's mentorship approach

During Mavericks practices, Irving has been teaching both Flagg and Williams. Working with them one-on-one, he demonstrates what to do in key game situations, such as isolation plays where either Flagg or Williams can take their defender off the dribble and score, as well as playmaking for their team, including dribbling, passing and scoring.

The results speak volumes for both players. Flagg has been averaging 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. This is impressive for a rookie who is just 18 years old. As for Williams, he's averaging 10.9 points, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals, which is good for a guard who is 6-foot-1.

The mentorship from Irving is both on and off the court. Flagg and Irving both played at Duke in college, giving them similar outlooks on life as young rookies drafted No. 1 overall and facing the pressures of being the top pick.

This is slightly different from Williams, who was an undrafted player from the University of Arizona. The Mavericks signed him to a two-way contract in late 2023. Irving was one of Williams' favorite players growing up, and he modeled his game after Irving's. When Irving took Williams under his wing and started mentoring him, Williams' game began to flourish on the court, and he started making a positive impact for the Mavericks.

How Cooper Flagg and Brandon Williams benefit from mentorship

Williams sees Irving as a big brother, as he teaches him what it takes to be a professional basketball player on and off the court. For Flagg, Irving has become his personal coach, mentoring him in the ways of the league and guiding him through the transition from college basketball to the NBA. Both Flagg and Williams view Irving's mentorship as a valuable opportunity to learn from an NBA champion, multi-time All-Star and one of the greats in NBA history.

Trae Williams

Trae Williams, a Fort Worth native, is a lifelong fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Mavericks, and Texas Rangers. His passion for basketball, football, and baseball led him to compete in both basketball and football during his youth. Since 2023, he has been covering sports in the Dallas-Fort Worth area

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