Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd insisted on Thursday that Kyrie Irving’s comeback from an ACL tear will be determined solely by the guard’s health, not by the team’s place in the standings.
“That has nothing to do with it,” Kidd told reporters, according to Christian Clark of The Athletic. “It’s about, for him, mentally and physically being able to play at the highest level in his mind. No one else’s.”
Irving, who tore his left ACL last March, has spent nearly a year in rehabilitation. Dallas entered Thursday’s games at 18-26, prompting speculation that the Mavericks might slow-play the eight-time All-Star’s return if postseason hopes fade. Kidd said the organization is focused only on Irving’s recovery.
“There isn’t anything new,” Kidd added. “He is working extremely hard in rehab. I spent some time with him yesterday. He’s in good spirits. He feels great. At some point, there will be a timeline. Right now, there is no timeline.”
Irving, 33, is in the first season of a three-year, $118,473,846 extension that includes a player option. He averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists over 50 games last season.
Kidd noted that Irving hopes to log minutes before the 2026-27 campaign and begin building on-court chemistry with rookie cornerstone Cooper Flagg. “He wants to play,” the coach said. “But when you come back from an ACL, it’s a time thing. Mentally and physically, you want to be 100 percent.”
A clearer timeline is expected after the All-Star break, but for now the Mavericks will allow Irving to continue progressing at his own pace.
Source: Hoops Rumors
