Mavericks announce! Goodbye, Irving! Out for the entire 25-26 season

It's confirmed, he won't play anymore, goodbye.

Official announcement from the Mavericks:Irving will not return this season, dedicating himself to the rehabilitation of his knee injury, aiming to be back on the court in the 26-27 season.

In an interview with ESPN’s MacMahon, Irving said the decision to sit out the 25-26 season was difficult, but it was the right choice. He looks forward to coming back next season stronger, with his faith and drive only intensifying...

In early March last year, Irving suffered an ACL tear. During the same offseason, he signed a three-year, $119 million contract extension with the Mavericks. This season, his salary is $36.57 million, with $39.49 million and $42.42 million scheduled for the following two seasons. He is about to turn 34 years old.

Trading Anthony Davis to the Wizards and Irving’s season-ending injury clearly show the Mavericks have given up on this season. So far, they have a 19-35 record, ranking 12th in the Western Conference, trailing the 10th place Clippers by 7 games, making a play-in tournament spot nearly impossible.

However, the Mavericks haven’t come away empty-handed this season; at least they have confirmed that the 2025 first overall pick and new American star Flagg is a valuable asset,currently averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 48.2%, 30.2%, and 80.4%.Keep in mind, this guy is only 19 years old.

Flagg has definitely shown the potential to become a superstar one day, being a two-way player with explosive scoring ability. Recently, he scored 30+ points in four consecutive games, posting 49 points with 10 rebounds and 3 assists, 34 points with 12 rebounds and 5 assists, 36 points with 9 rebounds and 6 assists, and 32 points with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, already performing at an All-Star level.

In summary, the Mavericks have quietly completed a rebuild. Without a doubt, this is now Flagg’s team. Even if Irving returns next season, he will likely play a secondary role, just like he did alongside Doncic before.

“No one can stay young forever, but there will always be someone who is young.”