Terrifying Kyrie Irving truth could sink the Mavericks next season

Since being acquired in a trade in 2023 from the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving has slowly turned into a Dallas Mavericks legend. In 2024, Irving was a major reason for the Mavericks reaching the NBA Finals.

Unfortunately for Irving and the Mavericks, last season was a rough one for all the wrong reasons. The Mavericks traded away Luka Doncic, simultaneously taking Irving's sidekick on and off the floor. Then, Irving tore his ACL in March, which ultimately ended his season.

Irving won't be back in time for the upcoming 2025-26 season opener since he is still recovering from his ACL injury. However, even with the 2025 first overall draft pick Cooper Flagg on the roster to bring hype for the new season, Irving still has a huge impact that can make or break the Mavericks' season.

Mavericks' season hinges on Kyrie Irving's recovery

There is reason to be worried about the Mavericks' new season because Irving likely won't be ready to play for months. If the Mavericks are not deep in the hunt for playoff contention by the time Irving is ready to play, the team may not be an elite contender to compete for a championship. This would put a ton of pressure on Irving as soon as he returns, and that's exactly what Dallas should stray away from.

This is where D'Angelo Russell is going to need to show why he was a former All-Star. With Irving out, Russell will be relied on by the Mavericks to produce scoring and playmaking at the point guard position.

Along with Russell and Flagg, the Mavericks will also be relying on their veterans on the roster deeply. Anthony Davis is going to need a big year to finally silence his doubters, and Klay Thompson will be eager for a bounce-back season.

Without Irving for months, Dallas could potentially fall below 10th place in a tight Western Conference if the season starts rough. Dallas finished 10th overall in the Western Conference last season before being eliminated in the final Play-In Tournament game by the Memphis Grizzlies, and that would be a ton of ground to make up when Irving returns.

If Dallas is steadily in playoff contention by the time Irving is ready to play within the top eight or even the top six in the West, the team can climb up the standings when he's ready to play and contribute. Having their dynamic point guard will make the Mavericks much more of a contender, and they can't fulfill their NBA Finals dreams without him.

When Irving got hurt in March, the Mavericks fell further down the standings and barely squeezed into the Play-In Tournament. With Irving, the Mavericks were able to be steady in the standings even after the Doncic trade, and fans had hope that they could still make a playoff run.

When Irving is ready to play, the Mavericks and their fans will be ready to watch him. Irving has averaged over 25 points and five assists per game as a Maverick. Irving was one of the few bright spots from last season's disaster, being the only Maverick to make the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.

Now, the Mavericks hope the team won't be too far out of playoff contention when Irving is ready to return. If they are, their season could be over before it even begins.