DALLAS — Kyrie Irving said Friday he has no restrictions heading into training camp, 18 months after he tore the ACL in his left knee. The Dallas Mavericks held media day at American Airlines Center, and practices under new coach Dusty May begin Saturday.
Irving has not played in an NBA game since March 3, 2025, when he was injured against the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center. Dallas ruled him out for the 2025-26 season Feb. 18. He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 50 games before the injury.
The respect he got from the wider basketball community during his recovery was healing for him, Irving said. The late nights and peer-to-peer challenges with young players around the league kept going through the summer.
“No restrictions,” Irving said. “Obviously, there’ll be some conversations with the medical staff about back-to-backs and just the quality of where I am, just being honest day-to-day and just having that fluid communication. I think that’s most important. A lot of new faces, but we do have a solid foundation built here. And I trust that not only medical staff, but my teammates, upper management, everyone’s gonna give me support that I need.”
“From a mental standpoint, coming back from a traumatic injury is not the easiest thing to overcome, but no excuses,” Irving continued. “I think I was built for this at a very young age, being able to put it in perspective with just the injury happening, getting past kind of the mental hurdle of just the fear or the scary moments of just, am I gonna be back the same? Am I gonna be better?”
Kyrie Irving On His Injury, His Minutes, And Cooper Flagg
Irving turned 34 in March and is entering his 16th season. He came into the league as the first overall pick in 2011.
“I think the summer gave me a lot of time to reflect on that, even this past year,” Irving added. “Being away from the game of basketball, just to put in perspective for you, my injury was probably the best thing that happened to me. … But it was a lot of weight on my shoulders and it’s no blame to go around, pure accountability of just where we wanted to be as a team. But I think we fell short of our goal, and the last year gave me a lot of time to reflect on where do I want to be as a player, but most importantly where do I want to be as a man. How can people look to me to be a better leader, a better communicator, be more emotional, vulnerable, and also taking the approach of acting like my age finally. I’m 34 years old. I’m going on year 16, and been through a lot, been through a lot of ups and downs as a person.”
“So I’m grateful for all the time that I had, a lot of rest,” Irving detailed. “It’s been about 18 months, 19 months. I think that’s great for a 34-year-old coming off a torn [ACL], in my opinion. But I think throughout the year too, I had moments where I was really pressing and I had a few setbacks, unfortunately. And the times where I thought I was gonna be able to be out there with my teammates, I had to be removed from the court. And I had to take some rest and learn what rest actually is and healing. And I think all of that just really taught me that I’m not in it alone. I need a great team around me. I need great support. And that’s what I got here.”
“I know, again, we’re gonna reiterate just the new faces, new regime change. That stuff doesn’t really matter to me,” Irving noted. “I think for me, I see humans in front of me that love the franchise, love the players, wanna come in and put their best mark on the franchise as well. And I’m at one of the driver’s seats. I’m not the only driver here. We have a few drivers, a few leaders, which I’m grateful I could always lean on.”
The time away led to a deep reflection on his career, Irving said, including how long he wants to keep playing. Dallas and former coach Jason Kidd parted ways May 19.
“It was an honest conversation,” Irving explained. “I was averaging close to 40 minutes a game by my own doing, by the way, because I was always pressing Coach Kidd to put me out there. But I wanted to win ballgames and I wanted to be up there at that top tier list. I wouldn’t be honest with telling you guys, being on that top 75 list still motivates me in a different way. I have an appreciation for all those who have come before me.”
“I know that naysayers or some of the questions around where I’m going to be are going to be inevitable,” Irving said. “But for me, I have the confidence of a champion. I’m a champion in this league. I’ve done a lot, but also I don’t lay my hat on that. This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type of league. And everybody wants to see it up close. So I’m looking forward to being able to lace up my shoes, be on the court with my teammates and show everybody what I got again. It’s just like riding a bike.”
Irving organized a minicamp for teammates at the PLYRS UNTD Performance Center in Los Angeles earlier this month. He gave the NBPA input on that building’s renovation before it opened Aug. 4.
“The best thing as well this past summer was us starting PLYRS UNTD, us being able to be in LA together, a bunch of my peers there,” Irving said. “You’re running into guys that are All-Stars, All-Defensive teams. And I needed that as a refresher, as a reminder that not only do I belong here, but I also can dominate. And I know that domination just doesn’t happen alone. You need a full team with you.”
Irving spent last season coaching from the bench. On game nights he arrived later than his usual three and a half to four and a half hours early, which he said let him watch from different vantage points.
“I really wanted to be on the court, but I still had to learn what patience felt like,” Irving said. “And giving my teammates grace, we had a lot of young guys, including Cooper, that have a world of talent, but need that guidance, need that leadership. And I feel like I tried to fill in that void as much as possible. But now as we sit here and we have our team set, we have our coaching staff set, really confident that we’re gonna be able to do great things. And looking forward to continue to bring the best out of each other. So that player-coach role was fun. I enjoyed it. But I think I’m ready to go out there and kick some butt.”
Bringing “the tribe” close together is what Irving is most proud of from his time away. He also picked up books that challenge him.
“Being present in the house more often, it does wonders when you’re raising kids,” Irving said. “I love this job, don’t get me wrong, but when you’re raising children, they don’t know anything about your job, really. They don’t really care. They just want you to be there, hug them, love on them, and I think that was a great step in the right direction.”
“And also, my daughter, being able to travel back and forth between here and LA, be there for back-to-school night, be there for parent-teacher conferences, being accessible to my family,” Irving continued. “My relationships around my family have grown tremendously. My relationships in the workplace are transferring off the court as well. There’s a lot of smart people that I’m around, and I don’t like being the smartest in the room at all. I don’t know everything.”
“So I want to say to everybody out there in the world, just thank you for all your prayers,” Irving noted. “Thank you for your support. Not only for me, but my teammates and all entire franchise. It’s not easy doing this, but it is a privilege to be able to put that ball in the hoop and be able to go at a high level. So me as a human, I’m grateful that I got time away, but now I’m ready again to get on that court.”
Irving said he looks at Cooper Flagg as both a peer and a brother. Flagg still needs guidance and teaching, Irving said, like everyone in basketball.
“He deserves a lot of the praise he’s gotten because he’s carried a lot,” Irving said. “And I commend him for that. Respect him even more as a younger person for that. He’s wise beyond his years, but I also have to remind him how old he is. He walks into a room, he’s definitely an old soul, but some of his attributes that I think attribute to success is his ability to come in to any environment and the possessions that he’s on the floor, he’s making a difference. And when you’re doing that at the best league in the world, you’re going to get a nod of respect from everybody.”
“So he’s a great human, still getting to know him, but he’s a young fellow to his team, and he’s going to lead this franchise into the future,” Irving added. “You can definitely bank on that.”
Masai Ujiri On Bringing Joy Back And Dereck Lively II’s Recovery
Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri opened the day. Ujiri took over basketball operations May 4. Dallas hired May from Michigan the day before the draft, after he won the 2026 national championship there. The Mavericks finished 26-56 last season.
Ujiri said changes are sometimes hard and that the organization feels a new energy. He thanked the city for welcoming his family and the new staff.
“We are trying to bring joy back to basketball in this city with this team, and with Dusty, the coaching staff,” Ujiri said. “They’ve been nothing but very engaging, participated with players, and all the engagements that we’ve had all summer. Players have been around in the city, workouts, camps that they’ve done, and places we’ve visited. I can’t say enough of this. We’ve won every single game in the summer, but now the real stuff starts.”
“Young players, veteran players, new players, players that were here before,” Ujiri continued. “There’s a vibe and an energy that we are all feeling, and we hope this can translate to good basketball, winning, the right attitude, and what we want to do is show a lot of respect for the game, how the game is played, played with joy, and win. Sports, basketball, it’s all about winning, and we want to win in Dallas, and we will win in Dallas.”
Dallas has missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons after reaching the 2024 NBA Finals. A successful season will take winning, Ujiri said.
“What I qualify as a successful season is bringing joy back to basketball in this city,” Ujiri explained. “Yeah, that would be success for us. And I know that’s going to take winning. Yeah, but if we can bring joy back to basketball in this city, it’s a huge success for us.”
Irving is “right there” health-wise, according to Ujiri. The guard organized a camp in Los Angeles that every player attended for three or four days, and Ujiri said he did it more than once this summer.
“He hasn’t played any competitive game in terms of an NBA game yet,” Ujiri said. “But even this morning, taking pictures, his spirit is incredible, and I’m proud to have a guy like that with that kind of talent on our team. And I said it when I took the job here, the uniqueness of seeing what Kyrie, Cooper, that combination could do with all the players we have, with Dusty. Yeah, I’m curious to see what that looks like.”
Dereck Lively II had season-ending foot surgery last season. Ujiri would not go into the details of the center’s timeline, but he said Lively has progressed from shooting to running on the court.
“I said it from day one that that’s the approach we’re going to take is being patient with D-Live, because none of us here know what it’s like, one, to have an injury like that, two, to be seven foot one, two, and carry all of that on that foot,” Ujiri said. “It takes patience, it takes expertise, and we’ve gotten that. It takes patience from his agency, from him. It takes watching him, his feeling. He’s been in here every day, has worked really hard, and we’re happy with where it is, but there will be patience till we get this right.”
Masai Ujiri On Nico Berg, The Roster Build, And Macao
Dallas named Nico Berg its executive director of health and performance Thursday. Berg worked with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2010 to 2014 as a consultant. Ujiri worked with Alex McKechnie for 12 years with the Toronto Raptors, and he said the Mavericks interviewed many different kinds of medical people before landing on Berg.
“We had to find the right guy, and we had to go to the right places, and Nico Berg is the right guy,” Ujiri said. “He ran his own clinic. He had worked in the NBA before as a consultant. He knows NBA players. He’s worked closely with medical people in the NBA, lots of contacts, the patients, the hands, the person, we believe the qualifications, we believe we got the [right] person.”
Injuries are a sensitive subject, Ujiri said, and one he is not afraid to talk about. He said some players are built differently and some injuries are freak injuries.
“We have to pay attention to it. We have to pay attention to different players, to their bodies,” Ujiri said. “Some of them are constant or tissue or however you want to categorize these things, but it’s very, very important that the organization has the right medical staff and is taking all the measures and know the data of how we should be dealing with this injury.”
“So amount of games, for me, whether it’s 10 games, whether it’s 82, it’s a responsibility of us as an organization to take care of these players and put them in the right environment to perform, no matter how we think of it,” Ujiri continued. “Is there overtraining? There’s so many things you can actually put in or consider with these things, but I think we’re all trying to figure it out, but getting the right staff and the right people in charge is the number one priority for us.”
The front office built the roster around May’s style of play, according to Ujiri, and it wanted players with a winning mentality. He said the game changes every day and the Mavericks have to be creative.
“We like those big, long players that are going to attack the basket, offensive rebound,” Ujiri said. “We like shooters. It’s where the game is going. I think Coach Dusty will tell you when he comes to speak here, passing becomes very important for us, playing with each other, and the winning mentality.”
Dallas opens the preseason against the Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena in Macao on Oct. 9 at 7 a.m. CT, and the teams play there again Oct. 11. It is the franchise’s first trip to China since 2018. Patrick Dumont is the Mavericks’ governor.
“The experience, I think, credit to Patrick and ownership, the experience of going out there and being in a place that actually we can say belongs to us,” Ujiri said. “If I’m allowed to say that, belongs to all of us, that’s going to be truly special in my mind.”
“So, camaraderie, bringing the team together, and the journey there, the journey back, the time spent there, the cultures you are learning there, you learn about other people,” Ujiri added. “These are things and education that has carved a lot of our lives, and a lot of these players, being on whether it’s different teams or where they’ve been before or their families.”
Dusty May On Willie Green And Coaching Kyrie Irving
Willie Green is May’s lead assistant. The two met when a mutual friend set up a round of golf after Green was let go by the New Orleans Pelicans. May does not play golf and said he was the fourth seed in the foursome.
“I really enjoyed his company,” May said. “And with all my staffers, it’s always about the people first, enjoying being around them. Are they eager to learn? There’s certain personality traits that I’m attracted to. And then he started coming to practice as we started talking basketball. And so it was always in the back of my mind that, man, if there’s ever an opportunity to work with Willie, that would be unique. And so for whatever reason, a mutual friend connected us, and I think we hit it off immediately.”
May had never coached an NBA game before taking the job. Irving is a nine-time All-Star and an NBA champion.
“I think everyone wants to be a part of a team and pull their own weight,” May explained. “And I think me being my authentic self is the best way to get buy-in from any player. And it’s a partnership. Kyrie has seen and done as much as just about anyone in the association. And so I would expect that I’m only going to coach him when I’m able to add value instead of just trying to just say things and do things, because I anticipate he’ll be able to see directly through that.”
“It’s just like any relationship,” May continued. “You build it organically, you help people get better, and you pour into them, and hopefully you have the right answers at the right time, and you’re able to put together the pieces of the puzzle.”
Thursday was the first day May had his entire roster in one setting. He called the summer a lot of trial and error. Size, length, youth, and energy are what he sees in this group, and he wants that to show up in transition and on the glass at both ends.
“The offensive side of it, you’re going to get more opportunities to score,” May said. “And then defensively, it starts your break to play in transition, which you naturally do well. So trying to have a system that mirrors both sides, mirror each other well and complement each other. But we’re still learning those things. We don’t know what our rotation is going to be yet. Obviously, there’s a couple foundational pieces here. But other than that, who complements each other well, who plays well together, there’s a lot more nuance to the NBA than college games, so we’re still figuring that out.”
Dusty May On Max Christie, Morez Johnson Jr., And Cooper Flagg
Max Christie started the most games at shooting guard for Dallas last season. May said he does not look at Christie, or anyone else in that group, as a shooting guard.
“I think Max can be a primary handler at times,” May said. “I think he can be a swing player. He obviously has a skill set that’s unique where I think he shoots the ball well. He’s a good defender and he’s really fast as a straight-line driver. So I think we just have to do a great job of blending all of their unique traits and talents together and not look at it as this guy versus that guy. It’s more of these three guys playing really, really well together. Who else can complement them? And then what’s our closing lineup? Because we want to be equipped to win any style. Fast game, slow game, a game where it’s just mucked up.”
Morez Johnson Jr., the ninth overall pick, played for May at Michigan. May said he does not know Johnson’s position yet.
“I know one of the things that makes him so valuable is he checks a lot of boxes,” May said. “Whatever that moment needs or whatever that game needs or team needs, he’s adaptable. He transformed his game last year for us because of his adaptability. But the things that make Rez are still his tenacity, his heart, his physicality, doing whatever it takes to win and assist his teammates. And so I don’t know the specifics yet what position we’re in, but I think he’ll find a way to be in the rotation and back in winning.”
Flagg was productive at 19 with the weight that was put on him last season, May said, while he faced different defenses as a focal point. Flagg led the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals as a rookie.
“We’re excited to help him on his journey and grow at whatever rate he grows at,” May said. “He puts in the work. He’s very intelligent. He’s a great teammate. And all those things typically lead towards a rapid ascension to being one of the best players. But right now, it really is dependent upon his teammates and all of those around him. I think all of our success is more dependent on who’s to the left and who’s to the right than we probably realize at the time.”
Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a couple of steps forward, May said. He would not give a win total.
“I think we have a team that’s going to compete,” May said. “I think we have a team that’s going to be extremely connected. And when our fans leave the building, they’re going to be bigger fans because of how relatable or how they interact with each other. We talk about communication. The nonverbal communication amongst the guys on the court is going to be much improved. But as far as a win total, anything like that, I have no idea. I don’t know the league well enough. I know that we’re going to work like crazy to chase a championship and hang a banner in our building.”
Dallas hosts the San Antonio Spurs, the defending Western Conference champions, in the home opener Oct. 24. May said he is big on visualization and has pictured himself on that sideline.
“Last year we played in probably eight NBA arenas, including we played in the Garden every year. So I’ve been in that environment, not at the level obviously,” May said. “I’ve been to several games here. I coached one of the former Mavs, and I used to come over when I went to Louisiana and watch a couple games a year. So I’ve seen several games. I felt the energy, I felt the enthusiasm that this place has, but I’ve tried to visualize myself.”
“But I have a really unique ability to, once the game starts, for 48 minutes I have 100%, my focus is on the court and our bench,” May continued. “So literally you can stand behind me and … I’ve heard secondhand of all the comments, but I’ve never heard them live. And so I think that I’ll just resort back to my normal habits of being completely focused on where my attention needs to be.”
A few active NBA head coaches have fielded May’s questions since he took the job. He knew them before they reached the league, and he said the questions have been more about routine and day-to-day planning than strategy. The team’s non-negotiables will be laid out in a team meeting Friday night, May said, and stay in-house.
“The keys to winning are the same at every level. High school, college, NBA,” May said. “It’s getting a group to play, to punch above their weight, to play better than they actually are as individuals together as a group, to be able to go through the marathon of a season. And that would be the biggest adjustment for myself, just the amount of games and mental preparation and stamina that it’s going to take. But as far as one game or seven-game series, you get better shots, you win in the margins, and you do it with great people.”
Cooper Flagg On His Height, His Shooting, And Year Two
Flagg won Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 starts. Basketball Reference lists him at 6-foot-9.
“Not very accurate,” Flagg said of reports he is 6-11. “I’m 6-10. I got to say, my physical condition, I’m 6-10 with no shoes. I was like 6-9 last year, so definitely taller.”
Ujiri spoke before Flagg and said the growth talk is true. Flagg turns 20 in December.
“The spirit has been incredible with Cooper. And I see a jump with him. Just the time he’s put in,” Ujiri said. “He’s one of these competitive guys that spends the time in the gym. He loves to compete. He loves to work out. There’s no time I’ve been in here where Cooper is not here. Very engaged with us. I had the opportunity to visit Maine and go to Cooper’s camp and spend time with his family. And just the way they absorb basketball, and how this is engraved in the family, it’s big. And you can see where he comes from.”
“For a 19-year-old to think like this guy, play like this guy, I think the sky is the limit,” Ujiri continued. “And it’s generational talent that we’re blessed to have here. That’s why we want to bring joy back here. We want him to have that opportunity to grow the right way, have the right support in this organization. And him to play with that feeling and nothing on his shoulders but basketball and winning.”
Flagg shot 46.8% from the field and 29.5% from 3-point range as a rookie. He spent the offseason on individual work, including his handle, his shot, and his finishing.
“I’m not sure exactly,” Flagg explained. “Obviously there’s a lot of different factors when going from the college line to the NBA line. It’s a little farther back, the game’s a different pace, but I just felt like I was indecisive, I think, a lot of the year. And I wasn’t confident shooting shots that I normally should. So I think a lot of it comes out of my preparation, which I’ve worked a lot on this offseason, the preparation, the confidence, and the mindset. And I think when those three things align for me and I’m prepared, I’m ready to shoot, I’m confident just shooting my shots, that I’m gonna be a lot higher percentage.”
Flagg got to American Airlines Center an hour early Friday to get a head start on media day. He described his offseason as taking care of his body, resting, and getting his mind right before getting back in the gym.
“At points last year I was going in blind a little bit,” Flagg said. “Obviously I hadn’t been through a lot of those experiences before. So I think just having that this year is a big help, just feeling prepared, feeling ready. There’s a lot less to worry about, I feel like. And so I’m just going in focused on just the games and feeling really prepared and confident for it.”
Flagg and Irving have never shared the floor in a regular-season game. They played together in workouts this summer.
“Ky’s one of those guys, playing alongside him, I feel like he just makes it easy to play with him,” Flagg said. “Obviously, he’s one of the greats of our game and he’s an incredible talent. But I think that combined with his personality makes it really easy to fit next to and play with. And I think the time that we’ve been able to spend in the summer on the court together has been really good for both of us to kind of build that connection.”
Three Mavericks play a lot of golf, according to Flagg: himself, Caleb Martin, and Christie. John Poulakidas just started taking lessons, and Lively just bought a set of clubs. Flagg also said May brings a college mindset but has adapted fast.
“It’s been incredible,” Flagg said. “Obviously, Dusty has an incredible knowledge of the game and you can tell that he’s really a student and really studies the game. So it’s been really cool to kind of learn from his perspective and the way he sees the game and the way he’s able to bring kind of the college mindset. But he’s also adapted on the fly and really fast as well.”
Flagg won national titles in high school and reached the Final Four at Duke before Dallas went 26-56 in his rookie season. He played one season at Duke before Dallas drafted him first overall in 2025.
“Tough, obviously,” Flagg said. “Never want to lose, never gonna be okay with losing games, but just finding ways to learn from the losses better, knowing that you’re not gonna win every game. It’s not possible. So just taking that for what it’s worth and trying to learn from every experience, good, bad, in between, and knowing that when we are losing, we have to find ways to adapt and change and get better on the fly. And I think that’s something that I learned and got better with all through the year last year.”
Dereck Lively II On His Recovery And Dwight Powell’s Return
Lively was not yet running when he spoke with reporters in June. He said Friday that he has focused on what he can control and put his trust in his doctors.
“I’m happy where I am,” Lively said. “I’m very grateful to the team for just giving me the ability to just take my time, make sure I’m doing everything right, and making sure I’m taking care of my body. I’ve been running the treadmill, been practicing jumps, been slowly getting back on the court, getting my shots up, making sure I’m still confident in my shot. And just being part of the team, having everybody around the team, no matter if it’s the trainers, the medical staff, the team, the coaches. It’s been great just having everybody around, having the energy again.”
Lively has put on muscle and tried to lose as much body fat as possible, using the bike, the treadmill, and the pool. He said he has leaned on Irving far more than Irving has leaned on him.
“He’s told me that no matter how long it takes, just sit back, make sure you’re doing the right things,” Lively explained. “Make sure you listen to your body, make sure you listen to the doctors, ’cause I don’t ever wanna be dealing with this again. So I’m making sure that I’m doing everything that I can to make sure I’m putting one foot in front of the other across the finish line.”
“Everybody here wants to win,” Lively continued. “From the 15th roster guy to the first roster guy to anywhere throughout the organization. Everybody’s doing whatever it takes to double down on winning because we’re sick of the last two years.”
Dallas signed Dwight Powell on Friday, bringing the training camp roster to 19 players. Powell, 35, averaged 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 63 games last season and has been with the Mavericks since 2014. Lively called him one of his best friends.
“He taught me how to stay focused,” Lively said. “He taught me about the way of the league, where to put your energy, where to put your focus, where not to. So he’s been a great help from year one to what, year four? … There’s times where I look at him for help, whether it’s on the floor or off the floor. So he’s definitely been a great addition. I’m happy he’s back and I missed him.”
Lively gave Legos to kids at the Lego store and ran giveaways on his YouTube channel this summer. He said he has a daddy’s girl at home.
“I’ve been more grateful that I’ve been able to spend the time with my daughter because I know in my career I really won’t be able to do this again,” Lively said. “Knowing that there’s going to be Christmases, there’s going to be birthdays, there’s going to be school plays, school dances that I won’t be able to be a part of is very disheartening. So I’ve just been very grateful and just appreciative of the time that I’ve spent.”
Daniel Gafford And Moussa Cissé In A Crowded Frontcourt
Daniel Gafford called last season one of the worst he has had, injury-wise. He said he goes to open runs for cardio and to have fun.
“My goals for this season, stay healthy 100%,” Gafford said. “I wanna play a full 82-game season. I don’t want any setbacks, any obstacles. And if there are any setbacks or any obstacles, I’m more prepared to really just take those head on pretty much. But my main goal, of course, 82-game season. And I’m just trying to take that next step as a player. Build my craft, be somewhat of a leader, not necessarily vocally, but just with my work ethic.”
Gafford, who is 27, shaved his head this summer. He said he felt he was at his worst last season.
“It’s just cutting off my past, I would say,” Gafford explained.
Gafford, Lively, Johnson, Moussa Cissé, Santi Aldama, and Powell are all competing for time up front. Powell is the only player in camp without a standard or two-way contract.
“It gives us the ability to make each other better,” Gafford said. “Whenever I talk to D-Live, of course, I tell him every time, it doesn’t matter who starts, it doesn’t matter who comes off the bench, as long as we come in and make an impact on the game, that enhances our ability to win games. Because if we are focusing on competing against each other team-wise, I feel like that could cause a lot of adversity, a lot of tension, a lot of negative things that could build up throughout the team.”
Gafford also moved his mother to Texas this summer. He called it the biggest achievement he could talk about.
Cissé signed a two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet with the New York Knicks in July, and Dallas matched it the same day. His salary becomes fully guaranteed if he is still on the roster Oct. 1. He averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 38 games last season.
“The process was, I would say my agent did a lot of good job,” Cissé said. “So I was just focused on getting better and then working and stuff. So I didn’t really put down my mind too much. I just wanted my next year, going into this season, to be a big year for me. So I just focused on getting better. And then obviously, it worked out how I wanted, to stay here.”
Cissé had never seen Irving play in person. He turned 24 this month and spent last season on a two-way contract.
“I’m trying to learn how to play with him because I never played with him before,” Cissé explained. “So I asked him a question and he directed me to the right places and stuff. So I feel like he’s going to be really, really huge for us because he’s a leader.”
Santi Aldama, Sergio de Larrea, And Tarik Biberović Join Dallas
Aldama arrived from the Memphis Grizzlies in a six-team trade completed July 8. That deal also brought Marcus Sasser from the Detroit Pistons and the rights to Tarik Biberović. Aldama said his status for camp is more of a decision for the medical side.
“I’m working on it,” Aldama said. “It’s been a long summer in that sense, but I’m working every day, and I’m feeling better every day, so I’m excited to get back out there.”
Aldama and his wife welcomed a son, Santiago, on May 2. Dallas was the first city his wife visited on the road with him, Aldama said.
“Everything happened super fast,” Aldama explained. “It was during the summertime. So it was weird because it was the first time happening to me. A lot of emotions, obviously super thankful to Memphis and the Grizzlies just because it had been my home for five years. And it got me to this spot in the first place. So thankful for that, but at the same time happy for what’s new, happy for just a new chapter moving here. I was recently a dad, so it was a very emotional time. But this is one of my wife’s favorite cities too.”
Sergio de Larrea plays for Spain with Aldama. The Los Angeles Lakers drafted him 25th overall before he came to Dallas. Aldama said he is trying to help de Larrea with the rookie transition in any way he can.
“You don’t see many pass-first guards that are that tall,” Aldama said. “Super good court vision and he’s always willing to do what it takes to help the team. So playing with him has always been fun. I think once he gets acclimated to the NBA game, he’s going to do it even better just because the court’s bigger. Threats around the court are better. So he’s just going to pick his spots and pick what teammates are open and he’s just gonna make the right read every time.”
De Larrea played at Valencia last season. He said the NBA is probably faster, but Valencia played at that pace too.
“I’m comfortable playing that style of game, trying to play fast, a lot of possessions, trying to take the best shot possible, but in the first eight seconds,” de Larrea said. “So I’m very, very comfortable with that.”
De Larrea said Irving has been passing along what he learned over 15 or 16 NBA seasons to the new players. He called Irving a leader and said it is perfect to have him while developing his own game at point guard.
Biberović spent eight years playing professionally in Turkey before signing with Dallas in July. He called himself a lights-out shooter.
“Well, I’ve known Mike Schmitz since I was very young because he’s like one of the best people who scout players, he’s all about European players, so it was kind of like a comfort zone that we had,” Biberović said. “When the Mavericks took my rights, I talked with Mr. Masai and Mike Schmitz. So that was kind of on the same page. My dream was always to come to the NBA, and Dallas Mavericks as an organization, they stepped up and they gave me the chance, and I’m very happy to be here.”
Biberović turned pro at 14 or 15 and played with much older teammates from that age. He said that forces a young player to fight for his status.
“Nobody cares if you’re young or you’re old,” Biberović explained. “If you can play that moment, you play. If not, you’re on the end of the bench and you wait for your chance. But despite that, there’s good things about it too, like learning how to live as a professional, trying to learn from their experience. Better to learn from somebody else’s mistakes than make your own.”
Marcus Sasser Comes Home To Dallas
Sasser grew up in Dallas and averaged 7.0 points and 2.7 assists in 166 games over three seasons in Detroit. He watched the 2011 NBA Finals with his family and called playing for the Mavericks a dream come true.
“It kinda put an extra chip on your shoulder when you going to come to play for your hometown,” Sasser said. “And the other advantage is always there, mom right up the street. So every holiday and when she’s supposed to cook, I can have some good home-cooked meals. And yes, a lot of guys from the Metroplex that’s in the league, that plays at a very high level. You got Tyrese, Cade, Daniss Jenkins, Ron Holland, Jalen Wilson.”
Sasser played in the playoffs with Detroit last season. He said he took some things from that series and added them to his game this summer.
“Really just trying to come in a lot better shape, so I can sustain picking up 94 feet and playing a fast-tempo, fast-paced game for a longer period of time,” Sasser explained.
His uncle’s advice was to be himself. His college coach at Houston, Kelvin Sampson, told him the only things he can control are his attitude and his effort.
Zaccharie Risacher, P.J. Washington, And Naji Marshall
Zaccharie Risacher, the first overall pick in 2024, came from the Atlanta Hawks on July 19 in a three-team trade. He first heard trade rumors early last season and said he tried not to think about them and kept working.
“When I got them on the phone after I got traded, that’s when I knew they were super excited about getting me,” Risacher said of Ujiri, Schmitz, and May. “And it’s been huge for me to be able to see that I’m a part of an organization where they wanted me to be here, and then to succeed too. That plays a big role and that’s a big motivation for me.”
Risacher spent two seasons in Atlanta after the Hawks drafted him. He said he is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
“Well, first of all, I’m versatile, so I want to bring a lot of things,” Risacher explained. “I’m talking about defense, rebounding, running transition, playing hard, obviously my shooting too. I feel like that can really help the team. … Just being able to affect the game in many ways, play off the ball obviously too. That’s going to be a big thing for us as a team.”
P.J. Washington spent the summer on 3-point consistency and making plays for others. His answer on what this team needs to be great was to stay healthy.
“For me, I think the biggest thing I really wanted to focus on was the weight room,” Washington said. “Just trying to be there every day and do something to stay consistent. Just trying to help my body in that sense, obviously. The last two years have been tough, me staying on the floor. So that’s all I’ve been worrying about. That’s the biggest thing I wanna do this year is be more available for my guys.”
Washington said May wants him to be more of a leader and to lead with his voice. He also wants to be in the best shape possible.
“I think for us it’s just being able to play fast, play big, move the ball, get good shots, and not really trying to hold the ball too long,” Washington explained. “Obviously, get off of it and try to find a good shot for somebody and get in the paint and make something happen.”
Naji Marshall signed a multi-year extension Aug. 2 after averaging a career-high 15.2 points last season. Marshall worked out with Irving and Flagg this summer.
“Kyrie’s Ky,” Marshall said. “I’m glad to see him healthy, moving the same, hitting shots the same, still better than everybody in the gym. So there’s no real difference, just a matter of time, and I’m so happy he’s back.”
Marshall switched to No. 3 this season and said he forgot it was his number until Friday. He set his 3-point target at 45%.
“Nothing but net threes,” Marshall explained. “That’s it. That’s going to make me unstoppable. I truly believe that. I work very hard on that, so it’s not going to surprise me. I might surprise some of you guys, but that’s for sure the next step.”
Max Christie And Caleb Martin On Pace And Competition
Christie switched from No. 00 to No. 0. He wants to be the point-of-attack defender coaches can trust with an opponent’s best player, and he spent the summer working on shooting on the move.
“On the half-court too, playing faster just means making quicker decisions,” Christie said. “Catch, shoot, pass, one of those has to be made, and point-five, we call it. So not really holding the ball, just making quick decisions. If you play with pace, it’s harder to guard versus slower offenses, a little bit easier, more methodical, more predictable. And so watching Dusty and his team at Michigan as well, they play fast, they push it in transition, they make quick decisions in the half-court.”
Golf is Christie’s favorite hobby. His favorite course around Dallas is Royal Oaks, where he has shot 82 or 83. Christie came to Dallas from the Lakers in the February 2025 trade, and his contract is coming up.
“I love being here,” Christie explained. “The city is welcoming with open arms ever since I came here a year and a half ago, or however long ago that was, in that trade. And so I felt nothing but love from the city, from my teammates, from the fans. And so I absolutely love staying here.”
Martin said the summer was about getting his body back healthy. He credited May with instilling confidence in him.
“This feels like a clean slate for me, honestly,” Martin said. “Just in a different spot, just being able to kind of clear the mind of things like the uncontrollables with your body and stuff that you gotta figure out. And some of those speed bumps and stuff that you gotta get through to get yourself back is part of the game, and that’s just part of life. And I’m just grateful to be back in the position I am now and having another crack at it.”
Watching Irving go through setbacks showed Martin the human side of the guard, he said. Dallas enters camp with 19 players and a crowded group at wing and forward.
“You can’t hide from the competition at the end of the day,” Martin explained. “You’ve got to figure out ways to separate yourself to put the coaches and the staff in a tough position to not have you on the floor. That’s the ultimate goal as a player, is play hard, play well, and put them in a position where they’ve gotta make tough decisions.”
John Poulakidas, Tobi Lawal, And Jett Howard On Two-Way Deals
Poulakidas is back on a two-way contract. The Yale product averaged 8.8 points in 13 games for Dallas after signing March 1. He said he shot about 41% from three at summer league, and what he took from former Mavericks guard Klay Thompson was a short memory.
“He, when he was in here every day getting shots up, he was very good about just taking every rep seriously, but also not being too hard on himself,” Poulakidas said. “And I think that obviously the level that he has played at his entire career, the elite level of shooter that he is, for me to have the opportunity to learn from him was something that I think was very important for my rookie season.”
Poulakidas spent part of last season in the G League with San Diego before Dallas signed him. He went undrafted out of Yale in 2025.
“Being on a two-way, it’s not the end result,” Poulakidas explained. “It’s not the goal. But for me, it’s being able to find some humility in that and understand that even though I’m not where I might want to be, there’s still a lot of people that are fighting and clawing to be where I’m sitting right now, and just continuing to have that chip on my shoulder, knowing that I still have a lot more to prove. … I’ve come a long way from the Ivy League.”
Tobi Lawal, the 48th pick in June, and Jett Howard are the other two-way players. Lawal will work under May and Texas Legends coach Nate Mitchell.
“They both demand the best out of me and demanding the same things, ’cause what I’m gonna do in the G League is what I’m gonna do when I get played,” Lawal said. “I mean, if I get a chance in the NBA. So it’s really not hard. They make it really easy for me. I don’t have to do anything complicated. Just show up every day, great attitude, be a great teammate, and work as hard as I can.”
Howard said his father was big on routine. The Mavericks told him no one’s role is set in stone and that it will be sorted out in camp.
“Honestly, I don’t really look at it as much different as being on the roster,” Howard said of the two-way role. “I just wanna get my chance, just make the most of it. That’s kinda just been my mindset.”
Morez Johnson Jr. On Dusty May And Kyrie Irving
Johnson won the 2026 national title under May. He and Flagg talked a few weeks ago about the rookie wall, and he said the biggest adjustment is managing his workload over 82 games.
“You have fun with him off the court, easy to talk to, you can trust him with anything,” Johnson said of May. “And then he knows how to flip a switch to get serious and coach you and put you in positions where you can be at your best. And he’s just a great guy. He’s honest all the time. I just appreciate guys that are honest.”
Johnson did not know what to expect from Irving’s minicamp in Los Angeles. He said the team got closer there.
“He looks good,” Johnson explained of Irving. “It’s still kind of weird being on the same court as him playing at moments. I’ll be trying to snap out of it to focus, but it’s kind of crazy being on the court with someone you grew up watching.”
After Macao, Dallas closes the preseason at home against New Orleans on Oct. 14 and Atlanta on Oct. 16. The regular season opens Oct. 21 at Houston, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m. CT. The home opener against San Antonio is Oct. 24 at American Airlines Center.
