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.

There's optimism Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving could be fully recovered and return from his torn left ACL by January 2026, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday.