The Dallas Mavericks and Kyrie Irving hope to continue their partnership, at least for the foreseeable future. Currently rehabbing from an ACL tear, the veteran guard reportedly signed a three-year $118 million deal with the franchise over the summer.
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The stars seem to be finally aligning for the Mavericks after the tumultuous last few months. Winning the draft lottery has undoubtedly been a game-changer for the organization, which now has another generational talent in Cooper Flagg and has given GM Nico Harrison a breather.
In the eye of the storm over trading Luka Doncic, management has faced the wrath of fans. Things only got worse with protests, death threats and fans getting kicked out. If this were not enough, the roster would see a plethora of injuries, with Jason Kidd being short on personnel.
Nonetheless, things look positive heading into the next season. Recently, Kendrick Perkins applauded Nico and the management for doing right by Irving.
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“I applaud him because the one thing about Kyrie is that he’s done it his way. You know who else I applaud? The Dallas Mavericks, the reason being is because relationships matter like Nico and Kyrie. One could argue, this is no knock on Cleveland. This is no knock on Boston or Brooklyn. One could say this is the happiest that Kyrie Irving has ever been in his career,” stated Big Perk, who believed the Mavs did right by letting Irving be himself off the court.
Irving felt accepted
Since his Cavs exit in 2017, Irving has struggled to find a footing, be it with the Celtics or Nets. He found himself embroiled in controversies that included not taking the COVID vaccine and hurting the sentiments of the Jewish community with his post on social media.
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Fortunately, the trade to the Mavericks turned out to be a blessing for him. Irving had opened up about the Dallas community embracing him back in 2024.
“I have my own beliefs and views. I think, here in Dallas, I have been accepted way beyond just my talent on the court. I think it is for what I represent in the broader world,” said Irving.
One of the primary reasons Irving found his happy space in Dallas is Nico, with whom he shares a solid association, going back to their Nike days.
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A leadership role moving forward
Playing a pivotal role in helping the Mavericks reach the 2024 Finals, Irving silenced everyone doubting his leadership skills once and for all. Going forward, one can expect the same from him, especially with a talent like Flagg coming on board. His ability to take over during critical stages of the game is something we have seen time and again.
Making things easier for Irving is the presence of Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, who also have championship experience. When 100 percent healthy, the Mavs are one of the most well-balanced rosters, with a great coach in Jason Kidd.
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Thus, the Mavs made the right decision by offering an extension to Irving. A move that showed concern for their players, especially with Kyrie tearing his ACL recently. That said, this is just the beginning, as there is still a long way for Nico & Co. to win back the trust of fans
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.