The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for the upcoming NBA season with the anticipated return of star guard Kyrie Irving, who missed the entire 2025-26 campaign due to a torn ACL. This news has sparked excitement among fans and former players alike, including Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who is eager to see how Irving will perform alongside rising star Cooper Flagg.
In a recent interview with WFAA’s Joe Trahan, Nowitzki emphasized that Irving's comeback could significantly improve the Mavericks' point guard situation, which was a notable weakness last season. The former NBA champion expressed confidence that Irving, now 34, will be ready to make an impact after a year away from the game. He noted that Irving has had the chance to observe Flagg, who has quickly become a key player for the Mavericks, and is likely formulating a strategy for their on-court chemistry.
Nowitzki stated, “The most exciting thing is, on the court, what struggled last year for the Mavs were the point guard position. And now you have one of the all-time greats coming back with Kyrie. He had a year off. He should be ready. He should be excited. He watched Cooper for a year, so I’m sure in his head, he has a plan on how they’re going to play off each other.”
As Irving enters a crucial contract year with the Mavericks, he is set to earn approximately $39.5 million. Additionally, he holds a player option worth $42.4 million for the summer of 2027, giving him the potential to become an unrestricted free agent if he chooses not to exercise that option.
In the broader context of the Western Conference, former NBA champion Richard Jefferson has also weighed in, suggesting that the Mavericks could emerge as a surprise team this season. He believes that with Flagg acclimating to the NBA and Irving's imminent return, the Mavericks have the potential to exceed expectations. This offseason, the team has added several new players, including Santi Aldama, Zaccharie Risacher, Marcus Sasser, and Tarik Beberovic, while also securing multiyear extensions for Moussa Cisse and Naji Marshall.
Jefferson remarked, “Dallas, they could pop up. That was the first team I said when it was like, who is a team that’s outside that you could look at, could actually shift some things up. And again, we’re not saying Dallas is gonna be top six. We’re saying if Dallas was (number) 8 in the play-in and won the first game and were the (number) 7 seed, you wouldn’t be like, ‘Where did this come from?’”
He further highlighted the Mavericks' potential, stating, “I think Dallas is the one team that has enough talent, high-level talent, that if they’re healthy, things are rolling, you could see them doing something.” With the combination of Irving's experience and Flagg's burgeoning talent, the Mavericks appear poised to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.
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