The Dallas Mavericks have experienced a series of major moments since former owner Mark Cuban sold his share of the team, including an NBA Finals appearance, the blockbuster trade of Luka Doncic, and the selection of Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick this summer.
One of the final major decisions Cuban made during his 23-year tenure as majority owner was acquiring Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023 to pair with Doncic.
At the time, Irving’s reputation around the league was mixed. His talent and playmaking were undeniable, but off-court controversies and questions about his reliability made him a risky addition for a playoff contender.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks moves the ball down court against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on January 01, 2025 in Houston, Texas….
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks moves the ball down court against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on January 01, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Irv ing is out.
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Cuban appeared on “The Arena” podcast on Friday and addressed the decision to bring Irving to Dallas, explaining that his decision came from conversations with players, not coaches or executives.
“I love (Kyrie Irving) to death, right?” Cuban said. “Like when he was having all his problems in Brooklyn—and before that, Boston—we were trying to get another star to pair with Luka. Initially, I was like: Kyrie? You know, everybody called him a cancer. Everywhere he went, they were ready to get rid of him. But every player I talked to loved him.”
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Cuban’s faith in Irving and his player-driven approach proved worthwhile. Irving’s tenure in Dallas has been arguably the smoothest of his career, and he quickly became a stabilizing force on and off the court.
Over the past two seasons prior to his left knee ACL tear, the 33-year-old veteran thrived as an elite second option, and eventually emerged as the team’s primary scorer after Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Irving earned his second All-Star selection with Dallas last year, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 47.3% from the field and 40.1% from 3-point range.
Heading into the upcoming season, Dallas has constructed a roster that likely won’t rely on Irving to carry the same scoring load—especially as he works his way back from the ACL injury.
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