Kyrie Irving, 19 Months After His ACL Tear: 'It's Just Like Riding a Bike'

Kyrie Irving hadn't talked to reporters since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025. When he finally did on Friday, at Mavericks media day, he said there's nothing he can't do.

I'm ready to go out there and kick some butt.

Irving is 34 and heading into his 16th season. He knows people will question whether he's the same player, and he said he has the confidence of a champion anyway. Coming back, he said, will be like riding a bike.

The more surprising part was how he talked about the injury itself. He called it probably the best thing that has happened to him. The time off made him think about who he wants to be as a leader, as a communicator and as a man, and about finally acting his age.

Almost everything around him is new

Dallas went 26-56 last season, its worst year in eight, and then rebuilt the front office. Masai Ujiri took over as team president in May and says Irving is right there health-wise. In June he hired Dusty May off Michigan's national title team, the first college coach to go straight to an NBA head job since John Beilein in 2019. May said Irving has seen and done nearly everything, and he'll only coach him when he can actually add something.

The best reason to watch is the pairing with Cooper Flagg, last year's unanimous Rookie of the Year. They've already worked out together this summer, and both said the connection is there.

Dallas also re-signed Dwight Powell, a Maverick since 2014. The team plays two preseason games against Houston in Macao on Oct. 9 and 11, opens at Houston on Oct. 21 and hosts the West champion Spurs on Oct. 24.