DALLAS — Cooper Flagg said he got into the gym with Kyrie Irving during his first NBA offseason. The two Dallas Mavericks have never played a game together.
Flagg made the comments in a video the NBA posted Monday.
Irving tore the ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025, against the Sacramento Kings. Surgery followed later that month. Dallas ruled him out for the entire 2025-26 season on Feb. 18.
“I got to get in the gym with Kyrie this offseason,” Flagg said. “He’s back healthy. Kyrie is obviously one of the greats, so just to be able to share the floor with him and learn from him on the fly and be able to go out there and compete is going to be a lot of fun. I’m excited.”
Irving has fully recovered and has been involved in the Mavericks’ offseason planning. Irving has spoken with Dusty May, Masai Ujiri, and Mike Schmitz.
Kyrie Irving Has Not Played Since March 2025
In 50 games in 2024-25 before the injury, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He shot 47.3% from the field and 40.1% from 3-point range that season.
Irving has played 779 regular-season games over 14 seasons and averages 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. He has made nine All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams, and he won a title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Dallas acquired Irving from the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 6, 2023. He has appeared in 128 regular-season games for the Mavericks.
Cooper Flagg And Kyrie Irving Share A Duke Connection
Both players went to Duke. Both were taken first overall, Irving by Cleveland in 2011 and Flagg by Dallas in 2025. Irving won Rookie of the Year with the Cavaliers in 2011-12, and Flagg won it on April 27.
The two met for the first time at a Dallas Wings game at American Airlines Center two days after the 2025 draft.
Flagg carried the offense in Irving’s absence. He finished his rookie season with 316 assists and 161 turnovers on a 26.9% usage rate, and he averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 starts.
Dallas went 26-56 and ranked 27th of 30 teams in offensive rating at 110.3.
What Changed Around Kyrie Irving This Offseason
A day after hiring May on June 22, the Mavericks selected Morez Johnson Jr. ninth overall. Dallas moved up from No. 30 to No. 25 later in the first round for the draft rights to Sergio de Larrea.
On July 19, the Mavericks acquired Zaccharie Risacher in a three-team trade. Santi Aldama and Marcus Sasser came in a separate six-team deal, along with the draft rights to Tarik Biberović.
Dallas extended Naji Marshall on Aug. 2 on a three-year, $52.2 million contract that runs through 2029-30. The Mavericks carry 16 players on standard contracts.
Dallas opens the regular season against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21. Tip-off in Houston is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
