‘Severely Missed’: Kyrie Irving, Dusty May React To Dallas Mavericks Waiving Dwight Powell

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving and coach Dusty May praised Dwight Powell after practice Monday, the day the Dallas Mavericks waived the 12-year center ahead of the NBA’s deadline to set regular-season rosters.

Powell re-signed with Dallas on Sept. 25 on a one-year, minimum-salary contract that was partially guaranteed for $1M. He appeared in 763 regular-season games for the Mavericks over 12 seasons and started 266 of them, averaging 6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 17.3 minutes.

The 6-foot-10, 260-pound center ranks fourth in franchise history in career field-goal percentage at 60.6%. He is also fifth in games played, sixth in offensive rebounds with 1,187, sixth in total rebounds with 3,251, and 10th in blocks with 330.

Last season, Powell averaged 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 14.3 minutes over 63 games, including 12 starts. He played in three of Dallas’ four preseason games this month, averaging 1.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 12.1 minutes.

The Mavericks announced the move Monday. In a team statement, Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri pointed to Powell’s impact in the Dallas community.

“Dwight was the consummate professional throughout his 12 seasons with the Mavericks and embodies everything you want in someone representing your organization,” Ujiri said. “He’s a tireless worker, an incredible teammate and someone whose impact extends well beyond the basketball court and into the Dallas community. We are grateful for everything Dwight has contributed to this franchise.”

“He will always be part of the Mavericks family, and Dallas will always be a home for him,” Ujiri continued. “We wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter.”

Kyrie Irving On Dwight Powell

Irving and Powell were teammates for parts of four seasons, including the 2023-24 run to the NBA Finals. Irving learned of the move shortly after arriving at the team’s facility Monday.

“He’ll be severely missed,” Irving said. “He gave a lot to the franchise, just a consummate professional. A good friend of mine, a good friend of a bunch of us on the team, past and present. And he represented a lot here in the city of Dallas. He did a lot for us.”

“So I was in a hot tub, just getting to the facility, just finding out,” Irving continued. “So it’s a little heartbreaking, but like I said, we’re gonna miss him. But I guess you’ve got to add in the metaphor, the phrase, like that’s just NBA business. So it is, but it’s always tough when you lose a good human in the locker room that represents leadership, good energy coming in every single day.”

Dusty May On Powell

May opened his availability Monday with Powell. Dallas waived guards Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas on Saturday, and May included both of them as well.

“I think Dwight Powell, in my short stint here this summer, this fall, up until this season, his professionalism, his attitude, he exemplified everything that you want a Maverick to be about,” May said. “And so I just want to say thanks to him. He certainly had an impact on all of us as a player here in the organization, and the same thing [with] Seth Lundy and JP. Those guys had an impact on our team. We’re better because they were here, and you never know what the future holds.”

May deferred when it came to why Dallas moved on from Powell, saying a lot of factors go into those decisions. Management delivered the news to him, he said, and Powell joining the coaching staff “hasn’t been discussed at this point.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” May explained about Powell playing elsewhere this season. “Look, I’m relatively new to the NBA game, so I don’t know the ins and outs and the calendar with moves and things like that. So would I be surprised to see Dwight playing somewhere? I wouldn’t. He still has some miles in the tank.”

The Mavericks’ roster now stands at 17 players, including two on two-way contracts. If no team claims him, Powell clears waivers Wednesday, the same day Dallas opens the regular season at the Houston Rockets. Tip-off at Toyota Center is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.