Kyrie Irving hosted an informal minicamp for the Dallas Mavericks in Southern California in early September, even though he had not played for the team in more than 18 months. The trip included new head coach Dusty May and his staff. Irving ran basketball workouts and beach yoga, but his main goal was to build camaraderie with his younger teammates, including 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, whom Irving calls his “19-year-old co-pilot.”
“When you’ve done what he’s done,” May said, “the younger guys especially hang on every word.”
Irving has been a leader and a valued voice in the Mavericks’ locker room since they acquired him in a February 2023 trade. He has appeared in just 130 games for Dallas, yet he is now the longest-serving player on the roster, following the release of Dwight Powell, whose 12-year tenure ended when the veteran center was waived this preseason.
Irving describes his time in Dallas as “a little bit chaotic at times,” but he has remained a calm, steadying presence through the franchise’s turbulent recent history. He was the vocal leader and co-star of the Mavericks’ 2024 Finals team alongside Luka Doncic. He was as surprised as anyone when former general manager Nico Harrison traded the perennial MVP candidate before the next trade deadline. During the public relations crisis that followed, fans grew angry, and Irving stood out as a voice of reason and empathy, which endeared him further to the Mavericks’ fanbase.
A New Front Office and a Veteran Leader
The organization has since overhauled its front office, coaching staff and much of its roster. Harrison was fired last November, and the franchise moved on from the other major figures in the Doncic deal, including center Anthony Davis, who was the centerpiece of the return but appeared in only 29 games for Dallas, plus two play-in appearances. Irving has stayed enthusiastic about his place in Dallas throughout these changes.
Now 34, Irving finds himself as the veteran presence on a team built around Flagg. He also faces questions about whether he might eventually leave town, as Doncic and Davis did before him. Much of that speculation centers on the 15-year age gap between Irving and Flagg and the franchise’s goal of building a sustainable contender around its teenage prodigy.
For now, the Mavericks have a simple objective: establish a winning culture around Flagg and return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2024 Finals.
“We’re building something. And I’m not sure exactly what that looks like,” Irving said. “I’m just going to turn the page. I’m looking forward to building something new.”
Building a Partnership on the Court
After Masai Ujiri was hired as Mavericks president in May, he said he had a “huge curiosity” about how Flagg and Irving could work together. That pairing was on hold last season while Irving recovered from a torn left ACL he suffered in March 2025. Ujiri knows firsthand how a point guard and wing connection can lead to success. He won the 2019 NBA title with the Toronto Raptors, who were led by Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard.
On a basketball level, Irving and Flagg fit together well. Irving is an elite off-the-dribble creator who also thrives as a catch-and-shoot threat away from the ball. He has played alongside several stars, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Doncic.
“He just makes it easy to play with him,” Flagg said. “Obviously, he’s one of the greats of our game. He’s an incredible talent, but I think that combined with his personality makes it easy to fit next to and play with him.”
The two first bonded during Flagg’s rookie season, when Irving was rehabbing. Flagg frequently worked with Irving, a fellow first overall pick out of Duke, after practices. They took turns playing one-on-one against assistant coaches, who rotated in on defense. Irving would show a move from his extensive repertoire, and Flagg would try to copy it. This summer, Flagg finally played alongside Irving in pickup games, which built anticipation for real game action.
Flagg averaged 21.0 points and 4.5 assists per game as a rookie, even though he played out of position as a point guard to open the season and the spacing was poor. His production and efficiency improved significantly when he shared the floor with a traditional point guard. The point guards Flagg played with last season were D’Angelo Russell, who now plays for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, and Ryan Nembhard, who is on a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets. Peers often call Irving the most skilled guard to ever play the game.
Houston Puts Irving in the Spotlight
That respect showed up in the season opener. Houston coach Ime Udoka, who had watched Irving in summer pickup games and a preseason matchup in Macao, made trapping Irving his top defensive priority. The Rockets beat the Mavericks 128-110 despite 32 points from Flagg.
“Kyrie’s been out 600 days, and our game plan was all him,” Durant said after the game. “Kyrie is that dangerous.”
Dallas has already shown glimpses of how dangerous the duo can be, even though Irving is on a minutes restriction as a precaution after his long absence. May sees a promising challenge in the pairing.
“We’re excited because they’re both such versatile players,” May said. “They shoot it, they drive it, they share it. It’s going to be a fun puzzle.”
Flagg left late in the second quarter of Friday night’s win over the Indiana Pacers after suffering a mild left shoulder sprain on a flagrant foul on a breakaway. Before he exited, Irving and Flagg combined for 27 points and eight assists as Dallas built a 35-point lead. Flagg returned Monday, and he and Irving combined for 47 points and 17 assists in a road win over the Miami Heat. Flagg finished with 29 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and three blocks. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and made the game’s biggest defensive play in the final minute, swooping out to block Andrew Wiggins’ potential go-ahead corner 3.
Irving avoids comparing Flagg to the Hall of Famers he has played with. Still, he clearly admires his teammate and predicts a bright future for him.
“I would say this: I think Coop falls in line in terms of having that competitive nature at a very young age to be able to lead a team, to be able to be on a great team and be a complementary piece but also lead the team in statistical categories,” Irving said. “I love that he’s a two-way player. I love that he cares about using his voice as he’s grown into Year 2. He’s coming off Rookie of the Year, so there’s a lot of pressure on him. I feel like I’m here to alleviate some of that pressure he feels.”
A Franchise Aligned Around Flagg
Just before he walked onto the court at Houston’s Toyota Center for his first regular-season game in almost 20 months, Irving spotted Ujiri in the hallway. The two men embraced and exchanged words of gratitude. They have worked together for only months, but they have known and respected each other for years. The moment reflected the alignment between Irving and a new Mavericks leadership group that wants to build a contender around Flagg.
“We truly believe in [Irving],” Ujiri said. “We truly believe that he can succeed on our team. I truly believe that if we have the right players playing, we can really grow as a team in a new system with Dusty and a new culture we’re trying to build. I truly believe that.”
Trading Irving could also help Dallas replenish its depleted draft assets. The franchise does not control its own first-round pick for the next four years because of deals Harrison made, including the trade that brought Irving to Dallas. League sources expect a strong market for Irving, an eight-time All-Star with a long record of playoff production.
“This is all transparent here,” Irving said. “There’s nothing that’s off the table, nothing’s hidden behind the scenes. We’re not trying to sell stories to the media or anything. Any time you guys ask me, I’m going to tell you where we are and how I feel, but also keep in mind that we do have a young team. They’re very impressionable. I’m not trying to bring any B.S. into the locker room — my name in the trade [rumor] mill or other guys in the trade [rumor] mill as well.”
“There’s too much of that in this league. There’s way too much of that, and it affects people’s mental health. It affects people’s day-to-day jobs. In order to get the best team possible that you want to see out there, we need everybody rowing in the same direction.”
Irving’s Path and His Future in Dallas
Dallas acquired Irving when his value was low after controversy marked his two-and-a-half-season stint with the Brooklyn Nets, who granted his request to be traded. It was the third time in less than five years that Irving chose to leave a franchise. He asked the Cleveland Cavaliers to trade him in 2017, after three straight NBA Finals appearances that included the 2016 championship. He left the Boston Celtics in free agency after two seasons, and the second was overshadowed by constant talk of his likely departure. The superteam in Brooklyn, built alongside Durant and James Harden, then fell apart.
Even after watching Doncic leave and missing the playoffs the past two seasons, Irving has said he has no interest in leaving Dallas.
“I’m in love with this place just because of how welcoming it was, not just from a franchise aspect but also the fans,” he said. “A lot of support around the city.”
Irving’s contract includes a $42.4 million player option for next season, which gives him control over his future. That option also allows Ujiri to push any trade discussions to next summer, when the front office could work with Irving on sign-and-trade or extend-and-trade scenarios.
Irving could also stay in Dallas as Flagg’s running mate for years as his career winds down. His agent is his stepmother, Shetellia Riley Irving. When asked whether he hopes to finish his career with the Mavericks, Irving gave an honest, if not straightforward, answer.
“I wish it was under my control, but I think it’s a collaborative effort here,” Irving said. “I’m mature enough to understand that. … You see that there’s a disparity in age [between Flagg and me]. Everybody likes to make a big deal out of it. … Every fair criticism that [has been] brought to this franchise is fair. I’m never going to shy away from that, either.”
“But my focus is just continuing to develop, continuing to put my best foot forward with these guys. When we’re out there on the court, just have fun. When we say have fun, we’re trying to compete at the highest level. We’re trying to win.”