The Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks are facing off Friday night, in what will be a battle for their playoff positioning in a winner-takes-all scenario, a

Irving is one of the best guards of his generation with a resume that includes a championship, nine All-Star nods, a Rookie of the Year and three All-NBA selections. He will be the leader of the team's backcourt once he does return, especially since Dončić is no longer on the roster. And that return is expected in January.

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly optimistic that star point guard Kyrie Irving could return from his torn left ACL by January 2026 and play a significant portion of the 2025–26 season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.