Irving Wants to Build With Mavericks, but Future Is Unsettled

Kyrie Irving said he wants to help the Dallas Mavericks build their future and feels a strong connection to the city, but he stopped short of saying he expects to finish his career with the team. Asked at media day whether he wanted to retire in Dallas, Irving said the outcome was not entirely under his control and called it a collaborative effort. Irving described his relationship with Dallas as positive despite periods he characterized as chaotic. He said the franchise and its fans had welcomed him and that he wanted to help the team move forward. He also described a leadership role, saying teammates look to him for guidance while he expects to draw energy from them. His comments come as questions remain about his long-term place on a team that is reshaping its roster and leadership. The Mavericks won 26 games in the 2025-26 season while Irving missed the entire campaign recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee. Cooper Flagg has emerged as a central part of the team’s plans, and Irving is preparing to play alongside him for the first time. Irving entered training camp saying he had no physical restrictions from the injury.