Kyrie Irving Shines in NBA Return After 586 Days

Kyrie Irving returned to the NBA on Sunday after missing the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn ACL, playing for the Dallas Mavericks in an exhibition game against the Houston Rockets in Macao, China.

In his first game in 586 days, Irving led the Mavericks with 17 points in 22 minutes, contributing to a 132-115 victory. He recorded a shooting performance of 6-for-13 from the field and 2-for-6 from three-point range, along with three assists and two rebounds.

This game marked Irving's first opportunity to play alongside Cooper Flagg, last season's Rookie of the Year, who added 14 points and seven assists. Mavericks head coach Dusty May praised Irving's performance, noting his impressive physical and mental condition after such a long absence from competitive play.