Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving says it feels amazing to be back on the court after spending more than a year on the sidelines due to injury.
The 2016 NBA champion missed the entire 2025/26 season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in March 2025.
Irving returned to action in Dallas’ 132-115 preseason victory over the Houston Rockets, scoring 17 points and recording three assists in 22 minutes.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Irving explained that a calf strain suffered during his rehabilitation in December 2025 further delayed his comeback.
“A lot of emotions leading into it…it just felt good to get that out of the way. I was imagining how it was going to go, dreaming about how it was going to go. I’m just glad I got that out of the way.”
“Being able to perform at a high level, that felt amazing. I humbled myself while also just being aggressive and trying to look like myself again” Kyrie said.
