Kyrie Irving's Return Uncertain Before Trade Deadline

Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving faces an uncertain timeline for his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, with reports indicating he will not play before the NBA trade deadline on February 5 and doubts about whether he will suit up at all during the 2025-26 season. The nine-time All-Star has been sidelined since injuring his left knee on March 3, 2025, during a game against the Sacramento Kings.

ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon shared the latest assessment on the "Howdy Partners" podcast, stating that Irving's recovery remains behind schedule. "Based on what I'm hearing, Kyrie is not coming back before the trade deadline," MacMahon said. He added uncertainty about a full-season comeback, noting, "I don't know at this point if Kyrie is playing this season. I know he wants to. We'll see if that's in his best interest. We'll see if it's in the franchises best interest. Those are things that need to be sorted out."

The injury typically requires nine to 12 months of rehabilitation, placing Irving near the end of that window as he approaches his 34th birthday in a few months. Despite progress shown in social media clips over the offseason, the Mavericks have not set a...