The cold hard Kyrie Irving truth the NBA is already terrified to accept

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving's 2024-25 season ended prematurely after he tore his ACL in March against the Sacramento Kings, and his 2025-26 season has looked extremely uncertain at certain points this summer. Irving refused to confirm or deny if he would return to the floor by the time the 2026 NBA Playoffs roll around in a stream within the last few months, and while this was a smart move by him to limit expectations, it still sent Mavs fans into a frenzy.

They feared that Irving might miss the entire 2025-26 season, but now it's time to accept a cold, hard truth about Irving and his recovery that should terrify the rest of the league. Irving could end up returning much sooner than anyone expects, and if this happens, the Mavs could end up becoming one of the most feared teams in the NBA long before the playoffs begin.

Dallas' season will quietly hinge on Irving's health, as they need him healthy to make any noise in the playoffs, and all signs are pointing to him being ahead of schedule as media day and training camp quickly approach.

Kyrie Irving's return could come much sooner than anyone thought

Nico Harrison went on the record earlier this summer to say that Irving was progressing well, and all of the subsequent updates following this have proven just that.

Over Labor Day weekend, a video of Irving went viral, as he was shooting 3-point jumpers off the catch at the NBPA facility in New York. Irving looked healthy and was moving well, and he is clearly attacking his rehab.

Irving's surgery to repair his torn ACL was just over five months ago, and Mavericks fans should be ecstatic about the progress that he is already making. Ever since he got the surgery, Irving has been doing everything necessary to ensure he returns healthy and in a timely manner, and him returning with plenty of time to spare ahead of the 2026 NBA Playoffs would change everything for the Mavs.

The most ideal scenario seems to be him returning before the NBA All-Star break, as this would give him plenty of time to ramp up for the playoffs. Even though the Mavericks won the NBA Draft Lottery and selected Cooper Flagg, they are still desperate to be relevant next season after missing the playoffs last season. Their overall firepower down the final stretch of the regular season and into the postseason will highly depend on Irving's return, and the rest of the league will be keeping tabs on him and his recovery as the season unwinds.

The Mavericks could truly become one of the most feared teams in the NBA if they're already in a good spot in the standings before Irving returns, and they are going to be much better than anyone gives them credit for. Dallas is one of the most overlooked teams ahead of next season, and seemingly the entire world has forgotten the fact that Irving has a great chance to return to the floor next season.

It has seemed like the Mavs have quietly believed this notion for some time, especially considering how they handled free agency, and his day-by-day process behind the scenes will have Mavs fans on the edge of their seats to see him play once again.

He remains one of the most skilled guards in the NBA, and the Mavs' ceiling will rise significantly as soon as he steps onto the floor for the first time. Good things, of course, take time, but the rest of the league should be terrified that Irving has already made it this far in his recovery. He works as hard as anyone when it comes to rehab, and he'll be on a mission to show the NBA that he didn't lose a step when he makes his long-awaited return to the hardwood.