Star guard for the Dallas Mavericks Kyrie Irving came through surgery with flying colors on Wednesday. The operation successfully fixed a damaged ACL in his left knee. The robotic procedure was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Riley J. Williams, Chief of Sports Medicine at HSS, who completed the procedure. Irving tore it late in the first quarter of a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3. This injury occurred during the Mavericks’ bruising 122-98 loss to the Utah Jazz.
Irving has made a huge impact as the Mavericks’ secondary ball handler this year. Prior to getting injured, he was tremendously productive at an average of 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. In 2013, he was the team’s best overall player. His exceptional play along with his championship pedigree really helped guide the organization. He is the only NBA player this season averaging 20+ points with fewer than 3 turnovers per game. On top of all this, he is shooting an incredible 40% from deep and 90% from the charity stripe.
The surgery will determine the next pivotal moment in Irving’s career. He was well on his way to being an All-NBA candidate this season. Back in February, he officially earned his way onto his ninth NBA All-Star team. From February 4 to March 2, he led the league while averaging the most minutes per game, proving he is among the most durable and skilled players in the league. This run came on the heels of the Mavericks trading co-star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Irving’s current contract with the Mavericks includes a $43.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season. This is one of 13 player options in his three-year, $126 million contract that he signed ahead of the 2023 season. This contract reinforces just how valuable and important he is to the team, as the Lakers go through one of the toughest stretches without him.
Even with the glitch, Irving’s first game in Dallas—against the neighboring Houston Rockets on February 8th—would wind up being one for the ages. In that game, he was on the floor for 31 minutes, scoring 26 points to go with 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks. His steady play since has been key for the Mavericks.
Leave a Reply