MACAO — Kyrie Irving said Thursday that a grade 2 calf strain in December kept him out for about eight weeks during his recovery from a torn left ACL, pushing his return timeline back further before the Dallas Mavericks cleared him for their preseason trip to China.
Irving has not played in a game since March 3, 2025, the night he tore the ACL. He missed all of 2025-26 as Dallas went 26-56 and finished 12th in the Western Conference.
The Mavericks open the NBA China Games 2026 against the Houston Rockets on Friday at The Venetian Arena, and the teams meet again Sunday. After practice at the arena Thursday, Mavericks coach Dusty May said Irving will play in one of the two games, with the team deciding which one based on how his body handles the jet lag.
Kyrie Irving Reveals December Setback During ACL Recovery
In a normal summer, Irving pushes himself to exhaustion getting ready for a season. This one was built around breaks and around not having to go through anything physically a second time.
“This offseason was completely different, man,” Irving said. “When the season ends, if we don’t go to the playoffs, I’m usually back in the gym around May or June. And if we go to the playoffs, deep playoff runs, I’m really working out again in July or August.”
“We have my More Than A Run brand with my brother Eli Carter. We’re always dropping YouTube clips,” Irving continued. “And having those up and downs or those five-on-five scrimmages be promoted online or on YouTube, it does great for the basketball community, that’s because that’s what it’s about. Summertime is about showcasing your stuff, showing people what you’ve been working on and just showing the freedom to create and your freedom to express out there. Some of the things that I do in the summertime will never make it to the NBA court, just because you gotta care about the possessions. And obviously you gotta take things a lot more serious.”
Irving Had To Change His Entire Offseason Approach
Irving could not prepare the way he normally would. Instead of pushing himself to exhaustion, he had to build breaks into the process and be more deliberate about how hard he tested his body.
“But in the summertime, I’m usually pushing myself to exhaustion, getting ready for the season,” Irving added. “And this year, I had to really take breaks. I had to be very conscious about what I was doing. Didn’t wanna have any, not relapses, but I didn’t wanna have any resets or have anything that I had to go through physically again. It was definitely a grueling process at times.”
“And throughout the season, I did have a moment in December where I did have a setback,” Irving noted. “And that did put me out for about eight weeks. I had a calf strain, a grade two calf strain, that was just crazy, and it kind of pushed my timeline back even more so. So I had to take my time to heal. So I think the offseason gave me time to just take that moment to just reflect and push my body to limits that I knew were smart.”
The December strain came about nine months after the ACL tear.
Irving Says ‘The Game Can’t Be Recreated’ Before Mavericks Return
On Monday, ANTA told Dallas Sports Journal that Irving is cleared to play in Macao with no restrictions. Irving is 34, and contact has been his test since the Mavericks opened camp Sept. 26.
“Conditioning is going great. I feel great,” Irving explained. “Just going through the rigors of just the contact and being in this combative sport, just practices, games within practice that we have, our scrimmages, just really testing out where I am. And I feel like I’m still unlocking things in my instincts and my proprioception and just getting used to just being able to play high-level basketball consistently.”
“Practices do wonders, but the game can’t be recreated,” Irving continued. “So I’m excited to strap up my boots, get out there, throw on my uniform, play in front of these great fans here, and continue to have a strong preseason.”
May had never coached Irving before this fall. Irving, a nine-time All-Star, also had a message for Mavericks fans on Thursday about the 19 months they have waited.
After Sunday’s game, the Mavericks return home for preseason games Oct. 14 and Oct. 16. The regular season opens Oct. 21 at Houston.
