Kyrie Irving injury update: NBA insider provides latest return timeline for Mavericks superstar
Kyrie Irving underwent offseason surgery for his fractured left hand during a workout. Earlier, it was reported that the Dallas Mavericks guard was in LA as part of the team's offseason training, but did not take the floor. There was no timeline for his return after the surgery, but one of the NBA insiders provided a key update.
Per insider Marc Stein, Irving is expected to be cleared for contact work before the start of training camp. Speaking on the DLLS Mavs Podcast, he said:
“At this point he has not been cleared yet for full 5-on-5 hoop, but basically what I’ve been told is he remains on course to be cleared in time for training camp so I don’t think there’s any concern there."
Irving comes off a solid season with the Mavericks averaging 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest, while 41.1 percent shooting from three.
Newly-minted Mavericks star Klay Thompson says Kyrie Irving influenced his decision to sign with Dallas
Kyrie Irving's longtime rival Klay Thompson was one of the big names this free agency this summer. The 4x NBA champion later revealed that the mercurial guard influenced his decision to sign with Dallas. Speaking to The Athletic's Tim Cato, he said:
"(Kyrie) actually was one of the first people to text me just how grateful he (is) to be here and how the city's embraced him, the organization embraced him. For him to come here and embrace the city and embrace the role, he has just inspired me."
Thompson and Irving later faced off in the NBA Finals twice during the latter's time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They also played together on Team USA and won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.
Irving was coveted by multiple teams before departing from the Brooklyn Nets. His tenure with the Eastern Conference side was a rather controversial one, but in Dallas, he appeared to have found the right fit. He inked an extension with the side before the start of last season and teamed up with Luka Doncic. Together, they led the Mavs to the NBA Finals before losing 4-1 to the Boston Celtics.
This season, Kyrie Irving and Doncic will have a seasoned third star on the side to help bolster their chances of contending for a title again. Only time will tell if the trio can make a title run this time around.