The Dallas Mavericks are riding high after reaching the NBA Finals and adding Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Quentin Grimes this offseason. The defending Western Conference champions will be even better next season, with one of the most talented squads they’ve assembled around Luka Doncic.
Unfortunately, events took an unexpected turn on Tuesday. The Mavericks just revealed that Kyrie Irving had surgery to heal a fractured left hand. The All-Star guard allegedly sustained the injury while training earlier this month.
One bright lining is that it occurred so early in the offseason. Irving will have three months to rehabilitate before the 2024-25 regular season begins, giving him enough time to return to the court in October. According to the article, there is “optimism” that he will attend the training camp.
Given the circumstances, that is hardly the worst-case scenario; yet, it is not an ideal situation. This means Irving will be unable to follow his typical summer fitness plan and may require more time to play himself into shape.
For a championship contender like the Mavericks, this is not a huge thing. Dallas needs Irving to be healthy and in top shape come playoff time. However, the Western Conference is deep and packed this year. They need Kyrie Irving to perform at an All-Star level to secure a good playoff seed and make their postseason route simpler. Hopefully, the optimism is justified, and the 32-year-old guard will be available when the Mavericks return for training camp.
