DALLAS — Bleacher Report ranked Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving the 36th-best player in the NBA heading into the 2026-27 season.
Irving, who missed all of last season recovering from his left ACL tear, is one spot ahead of San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle and one spot behind Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid on Bleacher Report’s list.
A nine-time All-Star, Irving enters this season with career averages of 23.7 points and 5.6 assists per game in the regular season and 23.0 points and 4.9 assists per game in the playoffs. The Duke product has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks.
Irving tore his left ACL on March 3, 2025, against the Sacramento Kings. He finished the 2024-25 season averaging 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game.
Kyrie Looked Amazing In China
Against the Houston Rockets in China, Irving looked amazing in his first game back from his knee injury.
The future Hall of Famer put up 17 points and three assists in 22 minutes while shooting 6-of-13 from the field, 2-of-6 from beyond the arc and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
“A lot of emotions leading into it,” Irving said after the Mavericks-Rockets game. “Grateful that Dusty [May] called the first play for me. Had my mind made up just to attack. … I saw that baseline open up a little bit, and it just felt good to get that out of the way. I was imagining how it was going to go, dreaming about how it was going to go. I’m just glad I got that out of the way.”
Irving told reporters in China that he sustained a Grade 2 calf strain last season in December. That injury prevented him from making his ACL return in Cooper Flagg‘s rookie campaign.
The Mavericks won only 26 games last season. They should win more games this season with Irving in the fold next to Flagg.
“Being able to perform at a high level, that felt amazing,” Irving said. “I humbled myself while also just being aggressive and trying to look like myself again.”
Irving will make $39.5 million this season. The Mavericks acquired the 2016 NBA champion from the Nets during the 2022-23 season.
Dallas begins the 2026-27 season on the road against the Rockets.
