Kidd's Kyrie Irving injury update is the exact boost Mavericks desperately needed

On March 3, 2025, it officially felt like the sky was falling for the Dallas Mavericks.

Heading into that night's game against the Sacramento Kings at the American Airlines Center, Dallas had lost three of their last four games, and their injuries were officially catching up to them. Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, and Anthony Davis were all out for this game, and late in the first quarter, they lost another key player.

As Kyrie Irving was driving to the rim, he tore his ACL, simultaneously ending their season. He was Dallas' one hope of staying above water until Davis was slated to return from his adductor strain at the end of the season, and as soon as he got injured, their season was pretty much over.

It was clear they weren't going to be able to contend in a loaded Western Conference without their leader, and nothing was the same without him. Their guard play took a major step back with Irving sidelined, but from what has been reported so far, Irving's recovery is going well.

Jason Kidd says Kyrie Irving's return could be sooner than expected

He recently posted a video in which he was rehabbing his injured knee, and his spirits seemed high. Anyone who has ever interacted with Irving or watched him play knows that he hates missing time, and while he sometimes takes his time to return from serious injuries, he always wants to be out there with his teammates.

Irving remained a mentor for the Mavericks even after he got injured last season, and head coach Jason Kidd recently revealed how Irving is doing when it comes to the rehab of his left knee.

On the DLLS Mavs Podcast, Kidd was asked about Irving, and while he refrained from giving an exact timeline for his return, he did talk about how he is doing personally while giving hope into a reality Mavericks fans are desperately hoping for.

"He’s in the right frame of mind and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s back early," Kidd said about Irving.

By no means should the Mavericks rush Irving back, as they won't be able to reach their full potential without him, but his recovery going so well that he could return early would be huge for Dallas when it comes to potential playoff seeding. If Cooper Flagg and Davis can at least keep them at the top of the play-in race, once Irving returns, Dallas will be in a great spot to grab a top-six seed and potentially push for the top four.

History says that it's imperative to get a top-four seed to win the NBA Finals, as only one seed outside of the top four has ever won the finals, and this should definitely be a goal for them next season.

If Irving can recover fully and be back on the floor by the All-Star break, Dallas will be in a great spot. Irving's addition back to the lineup will give them a major boost, regardless of how well they were playing beforehand, and the Mavs' new big three of Flagg, Davis, and Irving will have a few months to play together before pushing for their second NBA Finals appearance in three years.

Regardless of Kidd's optimism, it's hard to truly tell when a player will be able to return this early into his rehab process, and time will tell when Irving will make his 2025-26 season debut. Knowing that he is in a good headspace is outstanding news, though, as injuries can be just as tough on the head as the body.

The Mavs will look like a completely different team after he makes his season debut, and Kidd's job will be finding the best way to insert him into the new-look squad with Flagg to fully maximize everyone around him.

Irving's recovery from his ACL tear is quietly one of the biggest stories of the season, and we'll have you covered with all the latest.