Kyrie Irving is central to the Dallas Mavericks’ plan to build a contender around 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, even as questions persist about how long the 34-year-old will stay in Dallas. Irving has not played a game for the Mavericks in more than 18 months, but he organised an informal minicamp in Southern California in early September, bringing together new head coach Dusty May and his staff.
Irving hosted basketball workouts and beach yoga, but his main goal was to strengthen his bond with the younger players, Flagg included. He calls the 19-year-old his “co-pilot.” “When you’ve done what he’s done,” May said, “the younger guys especially hang on every word.”
Irving has been a leader and a valued voice in the Mavericks’ locker room since the team acquired him in a February 2023 trade. He has played just 130 games in a Mavericks uniform, yet he is now the franchise’s longest-serving player, following the departure of Dwight Powell, whose 12-year tenure ended when the veteran centre was waived this preseason.
A steadying presence through turbulent times
Irving describes his time in Dallas as “a little bit chaotic at times,” but he has remained a calm presence through the franchise’s upheaval. He was the vocal leader and co-star of the 2024 Finals team alongside Luka Doncic. He was as shocked as anyone when former general manager Nico Harrison traded the perennial MVP candidate before the next trade deadline. During the public relations fallout and fan outrage that followed, Irving stood out as a voice of reason and empathy, which further endeared him to the Mavericks’ supporters.
The organisation has since overhauled its front office, coaching staff and much of its roster. Harrison was fired last November, and the franchise has moved on from every major figure involved in the Doncic deal, including Anthony Davis, the centrepiece of the return. Davis played only 29 regular-season games (plus two play-in appearances) for Dallas. Irving says he remains enthusiastic about being in Dallas.
Now Irving finds himself as the veteran on a team building around Flagg. He also faces questions about whether he might eventually leave town, as Doncic and Davis did before him. Much of the speculation centres on the 15-year age gap between Irving and Flagg, and the franchise’s aim of building a sustainable contender around its teenage prodigy.
For now, the goal is straightforward: establish a winning culture with Flagg and return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2024 Finals. “We’re building something,” Irving said. “And I’m not sure exactly what that looks like. I’m just going to turn the page. I’m looking forward to building something new.”
A promising partnership on the court
After being hired in May, Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said he had a “huge curiosity” about how Flagg and Irving would work together. Their partnership was on hold last season while Irving recovered from a torn left ACL he suffered in March 2025. Ujiri has seen how a point guard and wing connection can lead to success, having won the 2019 NBA title with a Toronto Raptors team led by Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard.
On a purely basketball level, Irving and Flagg fit together well. Irving is an elite off-the-dribble creator who is also a dangerous catch-and-shoot option away from the ball. He has also played alongside several stars, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Doncic. “He just makes it easy to play with him,” Flagg said. “Obviously, he’s one of the greats of our game. He’s an incredible talent, but I think that combined with his personality makes it easy to fit next to and play with him.”
Flagg spent much of his rookie season working with Irving after practices while Irving was rehabbing. The two took turns playing one-on-one against assistant coaches, who rotated in on defence, and Irving would show a move from his extensive repertoire for Flagg to replicate. This summer, their rapport developed further when Flagg finally played alongside Irving in pickup games.
Flagg averaged 21.0 points and 4.5 assists per game as a rookie, despite poor spacing and playing out of position at point guard to open the season. His production and efficiency improved markedly when he played with a traditional point guard. Last season, those point guards were D’Angelo Russell, who now plays for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, and Ryan Nembhard, who is on a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets. Irving’s peers often describe him as the most skilled guard to have ever played the game.
The Houston Rockets respected that reputation in the season opener. Coach Ime Udoka, who had watched Irving’s brilliance in summer pickup games and a preseason matchup in Macao, made trapping Irving the top priority. Durant said after the game, a 128-110 Rockets win in which Flagg scored 32 points: “Kyrie’s been out 600 days, and our game plan was all him. Kyrie is that dangerous.”
Dallas has already offered glimpses of how dangerous the pair can be. Irving is on a minutes restriction as a precaution after his long absence. “We’re excited because they’re both such versatile players,” May said. “They shoot it, they drive it, they share it. It’s going to be a fun puzzle.”
Flagg left late in the second quarter of Friday’s win over the Indiana Pacers with a mild left shoulder sprain, after he was flagrantly fouled on a breakaway. Before he left, Irving and Flagg combined for 27 points and eight assists, and Dallas opened up a 35-point lead. Flagg returned on Monday, and the pair combined for 47 points and 17 assists in a road win over the Miami Heat. Flagg scored 29 points, with six rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and three blocks, including a dozen fourth-quarter points. He also made the game’s key defensive play, swooping in to block Andrew Wiggins’ potential go-ahead corner three in the final minute.
Irving avoids comparing Flagg with the future Hall of Famers he has played alongside. He is clearly impressed, though, and he predicts big things for his young teammate. “I think Coop falls in line in terms of having that competitive nature at a very young age to be able to lead a team, to be able to be on a great team and be a complementary piece but also lead the team in statistical categories,” Irving said. “I love that he’s a two-way player. I love that he cares about using his voice as he’s grown into Year 2. He’s coming off Rookie of the Year, so there’s a lot of pressure on him. I feel like I’m here to alleviate some of that pressure he feels.”
Alignment with a new regime
Minutes before his first regular-season game in almost 20 months, Irving stopped in the hallway at Houston’s Toyota Center when he saw Ujiri. The two men embraced and exchanged words of gratitude. They have worked together for only months, but they have known and respected each other for years. The moment reflected the alignment between Irving and a new Mavericks leadership group determined to build a contender around Flagg.
“We truly believe in [Irving],” Ujiri said. “We truly believe that he can succeed on our team. I truly believe that if we have the right players playing, we can really grow as a team in a new system with Dusty and a new culture we’re trying to build. I truly believe that.”
Trading Irving could also help Dallas replenish its depleted draft assets. The franchise does not control its own first-round pick for the next four years, following deals made under Harrison, including the trade that brought Irving to Dallas. League sources anticipate a robust market for the eight-time All-Star, who has a long record of playoff production.
“This is all transparent here,” Irving said. “There’s nothing that’s off the table, nothing’s hidden behind the scenes. We’re not trying to sell stories to the media or anything. Any time you guys ask me, I’m going to tell you where we are and how I feel, but also keep in mind that we do have a young team. They’re very impressionable. I’m not trying to bring any B.S. into the locker room, my name in the trade rumour mill or other guys in the trade rumour mill as well. There’s too much of that in this league. There’s way too much of that, and it affects people’s mental health. It affects people’s day-to-day jobs. In order to get the best team possible that you want to see out there, we need everybody rowing in the same direction.”
Dallas acquired Irving when his value was low, after controversy had marred his 2½-season stint with the Brooklyn Nets, who granted his request to be traded. It was the third time in less than five years that Irving had chosen to leave a franchise. He had asked to be traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, after three consecutive Finals appearances, including the 2016 championship. He left the Boston Celtics in free agency after two seasons, the second of which was overshadowed by constant talk of his likely departure. The superteam he formed in Brooklyn with Durant and James Harden then fell apart.
Despite seeing Doncic shipped out of town and the Mavericks missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, Irving has shown no interest in leaving Dallas. “I’m in love with this place just because of how welcoming it was, not just from a franchise aspect but also the fans,” he said. “A lot of support around the city.”
Irving’s contract includes a $42.4 million player option for next season, which gives him control over his future. That option also allows Ujiri to push any trade discussions into next summer, when the front office could theoretically work with Irving on sign-and-trade or extend-and-trade scenarios.
Irving could also stay in Dallas as Flagg’s running mate for years to come. His agent is his stepmother, Shetellia Riley Irving. Asked whether he hopes to finish his career in Dallas, he gave an honest, if not straightforward, answer. “I wish it was under my control, but I think it’s a collaborative effort here,” Irving said. “I’m mature enough to understand that. … You see that there’s a disparity in age [between Flagg and me]. Everybody likes to make a big deal out of it. … Every fair criticism that [has been] brought to this franchise is fair. I’m never going to shy away from that, either.”
“But my focus is just continuing to develop, continuing to put my best foot forward with these guys. When we’re out there on the court, just have fun. When we say have fun, we’re trying to compete at the highest level. We’re trying to win.”