Kyrie Irving healthy and ready to 'kick some butt' for Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has returned to the court after a 19-month absence due to a torn ACL. Irving expressed confidence in his recovery and his readiness to lead the team for the upcoming NBA season.
Why it matters
Irving's return is a significant development for the Mavericks' championship aspirations and marks the comeback of one of the NBA's most high-profile players.
Hear this story Kyrie Irving went 19 months without talking to reporters. When he finally did on Friday, Sept. 24, he said the torn ACL that kept him out of the NBA all that time was " probably the best thing that happened to me. "
He said he is done rehabbing. The Dallas Mavericks guard told reporters at the team's media day that he has no physical restrictions in his left knee, which he injured March 3, 2025.
"I'm ready to go out there and kick some butt," Irving said. "I know that naysayers or some of the questions around where I'm going to be are going to be inevitable. But for me, I have the confidence of a champion."
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