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.

Typically, an ACL surgery requires eight-12 months of recovery, but the Mavericks are hoping that Irving will be back on the shorter end of his recovery. ESPN's Shams Charania reports Dallas has hopes that Irving will be able to return by January of 2026, which would allow him to potentially play in the majority of the 2025-26 season.