Trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers was already a tough look, but now? It’s turning into a full-blown disaster for Dallas. The Mavericks are slipping fast, and it’s not just about their spot in the standings. Injuries keep piling up, making their playoff hopes look shakier by the day. And just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for Dallas—boom, Kyrie Irving goes down.
He tore his left ACL in Monday’s ugly 122-98 loss to the Kings, officially ending his season. Irving’s night went south fast in Monday’s blowout loss to the Kings. Driving to the rim late in the first quarter, he tried to finish a layup, but his left knee bent in a way no knee should. He hit the hardwood hard, immediately signaling for medical help.
Given the situation, the 9x All-Star turned to social media to share his mindset with fans, emphasizing on resilience despite the setback.
“And you know, let them know, you know, when you fall down nine times you get up ten. I don’t know any other strategy,” Irving said. “It’s just when you fall down, you get back up, you know, and it’s no time to feel bad for yourself and feel sorry. You feel the emotions.”
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Irving remained optimistic, focusing on the simple blessings in life. “But so, I, you know, like I said, a few moments ago, I have a breath. I have breath in my lungs. I’m good, you know, I have a chance,” he continued. “A lot of people around the world don’t get the same chance to wake up and just breathe and be, you know, a little bit stress-free or not have a lot of trauma going on in their lives.”
Irving also took a moment to recognize those pushing through their own struggles. “So, um, you know, shout out to you guys that are waking up with that purpose and still trying to help and do things, despite some of your limitations emotionally. So, um, I love you guys. I appreciate it.” Irving concluded.
Kyrie Irving on Instagram Live after tearing his ACL last night:
“When you fall down nine times, you get up 10. I don’t know any other strategy, it’s just when you fall down, you get back up. There’s no time to feel bad for yourself or feel sorry…I have breath in my lungs, I’m… pic.twitter.com/vAzvqepM4k
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) March 4, 2025
When the Mavericks shipped Luka to the Lakers last month, Kyrie Irving became the face of the franchise. Night after night, he carried the team, playing a league-high 39.3 minutes per game. But no matter how talented he is, that kind of workload catches up with you.
What was shaping up to be an All-NBA season for Irving has now come to an abrupt end. He put up 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game—numbers that showed just how much he was doing to keep Dallas in the fight.
With Irving out, the Mavericks have a massive hole to fill. And now, things might get even uglier for Dallas. Shams Charania dropped a concerning update on Anthony Davis, suggesting his season could be in doubt.
“I think him, his representatives are gonna huddle up. I think they’re gonna have some very hard conversations,” Shams said. “It’s not out of the realm of possibility that one game was the last time we’ve seen AD this season.”
Losing Kyrie was already a gut punch. If AD is done too, the Mavs’ season might be spiraling beyond repair.
Kyrie Irving’s return isn’t going to be anytime soon
Dallas risked it all, trading their 25-year-old homegrown star Doncic for 31-year-old Anthony Davis. The plan was to build a winning team by pairing Davis with Kyrie Irving. Sure, Davis might not reach Doncic’s level in six or seven years—or even be playing—but while healthy, he could be a game-changer.
Unfortunately, Davis’s injury history quickly raised alarms. In his Mavericks debut, he left with an adductor strain and hasn’t played since and now that could be his only Mavs appearance this season. This forced Irving to carry a lackluster supporting cast. Since the trade, the Mavs are 6–6, and Irving has averaged 28.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Dallas sits at 32–30, just 1.5 games from a playoff spot. Hope was in the air but not anymore.
Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and guard Kyrie Irving (11) celebrates after Davis dunks the ball during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
A torn ACL now is a nightmare. Studies show recovery takes about 372 days, sidelining nearly 33-year-old Irving for the next season. To add insult, backup guard Jaden Hardy hurt his ankle.
“It seems every time we get close to getting somebody back, someone goes down. Tonight, both Hardy and [Irving] go down. So, we’re running out of bodies here,” coach Jason Kidd said.
Controversial trades, fan protests, and rising ticket prices make this look like a scripted tragedy. Fans are fleeing. Ultimately, this season has turned into a dramatic rollercoaster that leaves many fans heartbroken.
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