In a surprising turn of events in the world of NBA trade rumors, the Dallas Mavericks have been hit with yet another setback following their controversial trade involving Luka Doncic back in February. On Monday night, the Mavericks suffered a devastating blow as their star guard, Kyrie Irving, tore the ACL in his left knee during a game against the Sacramento Kings. The injury, which has been confirmed by ESPN, has ruled Irving out for the remainder of the season.
The incident occurred in the first quarter of the Mavericks’ game against the Kings, which ended in a 122-98 loss for Dallas. In a display of resilience reminiscent of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, Irving managed to stay in the game long enough to shoot two free throws after sustaining the injury. The 32-year-old guard had been a key player for the Mavericks this season, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Irving had also been shouldering a heavy workload, leading the league in minutes played since mid-January.
The string of misfortune for the Mavericks and their fans began on February 2 when the team made the controversial decision to trade away fan-favorite Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The trade brought in center Anthony Davis, but Davis played just one game for Dallas before being sidelined with an adductor strain since February 8. To add insult to injury, the team announced a price hike for season-ticket holders on the same day Irving suffered his devastating knee injury.
Kyrie Irving, who is currently in his third season with the Mavericks after being acquired in a midseason trade in 2023, is in the second year of a lucrative three-year, $120 million contract he signed with Dallas in the summer of 2023. Irving holds a player option for the next season, adding further uncertainty to his future with the team. Following the loss to the Kings, the Mavericks now hold a 32-30 record and sit in 10th place in the competitive Western Conference.
