DALLAS — Nearly 19 months after tearing his left ACL, Kyrie Irving is cleared to play in the NBA China Games 2026 in Macao with no restrictions, ANTA shared with Dallas Sports Journal.
The brand will also release two new Irving signature colorways on Oct. 10: the KAI 3 “Macao Hearts” and the KAIBRID “Macau Spades.”
Kyrie Irving Cleared Following 19-Month ACL Recovery
Irving last played March 3, 2025, before a knee injury ended his season after 50 games. He missed all of 2025-26 as the Dallas Mavericks went 24-52. Back in practice since camp opened Sept. 26, he impressed Mavericks coach Dusty May, who had never coached him, from Day 1.
“I have no reference point, I’ve never seen him in practice before, but I can’t imagine that this is as close to 100% as he can be,” May said. “He played well. He was engaged.”
May also noted Irving is one of the most recent 180 shooters in the NBA, a mark he called “incredremely difficult” to reach.
“He got flipped a couple days ago trying to block a shot and actually landed and maintained position in a handstand,” May said. “I’ve never seen it.”
Irving said at media day he carries no restrictions into camp.
“From a mental standpoint, coming back from a traumatic injury is not the easiest thing to overcome, but no excuses,” he said. “I had moments where I was really pressing and I had a few setbacks, unfortunately. 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.”
Asked what the recovery taught him, Irving pointed to the surgery itself.
“I truly am one of the lucky ones, fortunate ones,” he said. “My work ethic has led me to this point. If I didn’t work on myself, I would not be able to come back. I would have probably just stopped.”
Max Christie has shared the floor with Irving for less than two weeks.
“It’s always fun to play with a Hall of Famer,” Christie said. “Obviously, watching him create, and then being his teammate as well, I’m the beneficiary of a lot of just his basketball.”
P.J. Washington played alongside Irving before the injury and has been back on the floor with him in camp. “He brings so much attention. He makes it so much easier for everybody else,” Washington said. “His gravity is one of a kind, and I can’t wait for him to be on the floor with everybody.”
Irving is 34 and entering his 16th NBA season. He will share the backcourt with reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg for the first time, under a reorganized Dallas operation led by new team president Masai Ujiri and first-year Mavericks coach May.
“He’s wise beyond his years,” Irving said of Flagg. “He’s going to lead this franchise into the future. You can definitely bank on that.”
KAI 3 ‘Macao Hearts’ And KAIBRID ‘Macau Spades’ Release Oct. 10
Per ANTA’s announcement, the KAI 3 “Macao Hearts” is done in fluorescent red over a black base, with gold and color-shifting overlays on the upper. It lists at $135 and goes on sale at ANTA.com.
The KAIBRID “Macau Spades” retails for $150 and is available exclusively at ANTA’s Beverly Hills store. ANTA describes the shoe as featuring “pearlized finishes, speckled textures, and metallic accents.”
Both shoes are the first releases in a four-shoe Macao Pack from ANTA’s KAI line, launched in 2024. The brand says KAI 1 and KAI 2 editions will arrive in the coming months.
Up Next
Dallas and the Houston Rockets meet twice at The Venetian Arena in Macao, on Friday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 11. Both games air on NBA TV. Friday’s opener tips at 6:30 a.m. CT. Sunday’s game starts at 4:30 a.m. CT.
The trip is the NBA’s second straight year staging the China Games in Macao under its five-year partnership with Sands China. May was asked Friday what the team needs from the trip. “We need to leave Macao with a much better understanding of what our holes are on offense and defense,” he said.
Irving said at media day he is looking forward to running the exhibitions. “You guys will see some of the possessions out there in Macao,” he said. “It’s very easy for us.”
The Mavericks open at Houston on Oct. 21.
