Kyrie Irving is expected to be ready to compete for the Dallas Mavericks from the beginning of training camp at the end of September.
Kyrie Irving is aiming to replicate the success of last season with the Dallas Mavericks in 2024-25, as the team sets its sights on returning to the NBA Finals and winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Despite recently being confirmed to have suffered a broken hand, renowned insider Marc Stein reported that Irving is expected to be fully cleared for training camp by late September.
“He’s very limited in what he can do at this point. He hasn’t been cleared for full five-on-five play yet, but from what I’ve been told, he’s still on track to be cleared in time for training camp. So I don’t think there’s any concern there,” Stein noted.
Last season, Irving shifted the narrative of his career by embracing a team-first approach, helping the Mavericks reach their third Finals appearance in franchise history. Although they fell short, Irving emerged as a leader in the locker room, averaging impressive stats throughout the season.
Over the past month, while sidelined with his injury, Irving took the initiative to organize an informal team camp in California, which was attended by every player who was in the country during the offseason. Although Irving couldn’t participate on the court, he played a crucial role in fostering team chemistry, especially with new additions like Klay Thompson and Quentin Grimes.
Luka Doncic was unable to attend due to commitments in Europe and China, further emphasizing Irving’s responsibility to ensure the team is prepared for the upcoming season.
Success is never guaranteed, so the Mavericks will need to play with the same intensity they showed last season if they hope to return to the Finals and challenge the top teams from the Eastern Conference.
Kyrie Irving Recruited Klay Thompson To The Mavericks
Kyrie Irving has been instrumental in helping the Mavericks move closer to a championship, playing a key role in the recruitment of Klay Thompson. Head coach Jason Kidd shared how Irving convinced Klay to join the Mavericks by drawing from his own experiences after challenging seasons with the Nets and Celtics.
“When it comes to recruitment, many people were involved, but Kai was one of the biggest players in that effort. Kai, speaking player to player, shared his honest experience of what Dallas has been like for him over the past two years and conveyed to Klay what he truly believes can happen with him joining the Mavericks,” Kidd explained.
Irving’s pitch was persuasive enough to convince the four-time champion to turn down a more lucrative offer from his hometown team, the Lakers, despite LeBron James personally recruiting Thompson to Los Angeles.
Kidd also believes that adding Klay is the missing piece the Mavericks need to overcome the championship hurdle.
“We truly believe that Klay brings something we’ve been missing—a player who’s not afraid to take the big shot. He’s been in championship situations and knows what it takes. We believe we’re building a championship team,” Kidd said.
The positive energy that Irving, Kidd, and GM Nico Harrison have cultivated in the locker room has made the Mavericks a team players are happy to be part of. However, with tough competition in the West and many teams being picked ahead of the Mavs, they must continue to turn that good energy into results on the court.
Leave a Reply