Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is progressing faster than expected in his rehabilitation from left ACL surgery, according to NBA reporter Ashish Mathur of DallasHoopsJournal.
Irving, 33, tore the ligament on March 3 against the Sacramento Kings. While the club has not released a return date, sources told Mathur the Mavericks will not rush their nine-time All-Star back to the court.
Before the injury, Irving appeared in 50 games last season, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47 percent overall, 40 percent from three-point range and nearly 92 percent at the free-throw line.
The veteran signed a three-year, $118 million contract with Dallas in July. He is set to earn $36.6 million this season and holds a $42.4 million player option for 2027-28.
Until Irving is cleared, Dallas is expected to start D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, rookie Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford. Irving would reclaim the point-guard spot when healthy, moving Russell to a reserve role.
Thompson, who faced Irving in multiple NBA Finals while with the Golden State Warriors, praised his new teammate on the “Showtime With Michael Cooper” podcast, calling him “the toughest guy I’ve ever guarded” and placing him alongside LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant as players without weaknesses.
Irving owns career averages of 23.7 points and 5.6 assists and captured an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Source: Hoops Wire
