Kyrie Irving gets candid about finishing his career with the Mavericks

Kyrie Irving is entering an intriguing 2026-27 NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks. For one, Irving is going to make $39.5 million in the coming campaign, while also still holding a player option for the 2027-28 season worth $42.4 million.

However, Irving doesn’t seem to be all that interested in looking too far ahead regarding his future with the Mavs.

“I wish that a lot was under my control. I think it’s a collaborative effort here,” Irving said in response to a question about whether he would want to finish his NBA career with Dallas, via Christian Clark of The Athletic.

“I’m mature enough to understand that the experience I have in the league, I can use that as talking points when I’m talking to Masai and (general manager) Mike (Schmitz) and the coaching staff. You see, there is a disparity in age. Everyone likes to make a big deal out of that. Everyone on social media likes to talk about it. It’s actively part of every conversation, which I don’t mind. … But I think my focus is continuing to develop, continuing to put my best foot forward with these guys.”

Beyond his future with the Mavericks, Irving’s performance after a long recovery from a devastating injury will be a major talking point this season.

Fans didn’t see the former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick in action in the entire 2025-26 season after he tore his ACL in February of 2025, but he looks ready to give it a go come Day 1 of the new campaign.

Without Irving, the Mavs won just 26 games but got to witness the incredible rookie season of Cooper Flagg. The chemistry between Irving and Flagg will finally be in full view in the coming season, and the Mavs are likely going to go as far as that all-Duke duo can take them.