Kyrie Irving ruled out for remainder of 2025-26 NBA season as ACL recovery continues

Kyrie Irving tore the ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025, during a game against the Sacramento Kings after accidentally stepping on a player's foot. He underwent successful ACL reconstruction surgery on March 26, 2025, in New York. Irving missed the final 20 games of last season and has been absent for all of the 2025-26 season as well.

On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Irving and the Mavericks officially announced he will not return this season and is expected back for 2026-27. In his statement, Irving called the decision the right one, expressed gratitude to the organization and fans, and offered encouragement to others dealing with ACL and sports injuries.

The Mavericks have had a turbulent season beyond Irving's absence. They traded Luka Doncic to acquire Anthony Davis, only to later trade Davis to Washington as part of a nine-player deal in February. The team entered the All-Star break at 19-35 and on a nine-game losing streak — their longest in 28 years — sitting 12th in the Western Conference. Irving signed a three-year, $119 million extension in July 2025, with $39.5 million owed next season.

This marks the first full season missed in Irving's 15-year NBA career.

Most articles focus narrowly on Irving's absence without fully contextualizing the broader roster turbulence the Mavericks have experienced — the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade, the subsequent Anthony Davis acquisition and trade, and the team's dramatic fall in the standings. Irving and Davis played only 25 minutes together, which is a striking detail many articles omit.

Few articles mention the draft capital implications or that Dallas does not control its own first-round pick again until 2031, which is highly relevant context for understanding the team's long-term situation. Irving's agent's statement about a 'championship push' next season also received limited coverage.