Kyrie Irving is set to play his first game in more than 19 months, with Dallas Mavericks coach Dusty May saying the star guard will suit up in one of two preseason games against the Houston Rockets in Macao this weekend.
May has not decided which of the two games Irving will play, NBA reporter Marc Stein reported, as relayed by RealGM. Irving has not played since tearing the ACL in his left knee in March 2025.
Calf strain delayed comeback
Speaking to reporters in Macao, Irving revealed that a calf strain in December set his recovery back by about eight weeks before he was ruled out for the 2025-26 season. “I had to take my time to heal,” Irving said, The Athletic reported.
Irving last played on 3 March 2025, when he tore the ACL during a 122-98 home loss to the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Sports Journal’s Grant Afseth noted. He was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists across 50 starts that season, shooting 47.3 per cent from the field and 40.1 per cent from three-point range. Dallas went 26-56 without him in 2025-26.
‘A little kid at the candy store’
After practice in Macao on Tuesday, Irving told reporters the mental side of the comeback was now his focus.
“For me personally, it’s just getting out of my own way and the mental aspect of it, being back on the floor, putting my uniform back on, hearing my name be called,” Irving said, according to Dallas Sports Journal. “It feels like it’s been a distant memory. It’s been a year and some change, so I do feel like a little kid at the candy store a little bit, just waiting for my opportunity to be able to show my stuff.”
The Melbourne-born guard has yet to play alongside reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, and had never been coached by May before training camp opened on 26 September.
When Irving could play
The Mavericks and Rockets meet at The Venetian Arena in Macao on Friday (10:30pm AEDT Friday 9 October) and again on Sunday (8:30pm AEDT Sunday 11 October). Dallas then opens its regular season in Houston on 21 October (US time), which is 11:30am AEDT on Thursday 22 October.
More News
