Kyrie Irving to Miss Entire Season for Mavericks

Star guard continues recovery from knee injury sustained nearly a year ago

Feb. 22, 2026 at 3:31am

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Kyrie Irving will not play this season for the Dallas Mavericks as he continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained almost a year ago. The nine-time All-Star and the team made the announcement, with Irving saying the decision 'wasn't easy, but it's the right one.' Irving tore his ACL in his left knee on March 3 and this will be the first time in his 15-year career that the 33-year-old has missed an entire season.

Why it matters

Irving's absence is a major blow to the Mavericks, who are on a nine-game losing streak and out of playoff contention. The team had hoped Irving and fellow star Anthony Davis could help them return to the playoffs, but Davis was injured shortly after arriving in Dallas and Irving's season-ending injury has derailed those plans.

The details

Irving tore his ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025. He will miss the entire 2026 season as he continues his recovery. The Mavericks had traded young superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around Davis just a month before Irving's injury. Irving and Davis played together for just 2 1/2 quarters before Davis aggravated an abdominal injury in his Dallas debut.

  • Irving tore his ACL on March 3, 2025.
  • The Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis just a month before Irving's injury.

The players

Kyrie Irving

A nine-time NBA All-Star and veteran guard who will miss the entire 2026 season for the Dallas Mavericks as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

Anthony Davis

An oft-injured big man who was acquired by the Mavericks in the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, but Davis was injured shortly after arriving in Dallas and never played with Irving.

Cooper Flagg

The former Duke standout who was selected No. 1 overall by the Mavericks in the 2026 NBA Draft, with the team hoping he can be the new face of the franchise alongside the veteran Irving.

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What they’re saying

“This decision wasn't easy, but it's the right one. I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows.”

— Kyrie Irving

“Kyrie has the ultimate respect for Cooper. He loves the kid's work ethic. He loves the kid's love for the game. And I think Kyrie's embracing the role as a mentor to Cooper.”

— Michael Finley, Co-Interim General Manager, Dallas Mavericks

What’s next

The Mavericks will look to build around the newly drafted Cooper Flagg and hope that Kyrie Irving can return to full strength and mentor the young star next season.

The takeaway

Kyrie Irving's season-ending injury is a major setback for the Mavericks, who were hoping he and Anthony Davis could help the team return to the playoffs. The team will now focus on developing its young first overall pick, Cooper Flagg, with Irving serving as a veteran mentor when he returns next season.