Kyrie Irving isn’t going anywhere.
Despite a torn ACL, a tumultuous season, and a franchise still reshaping itself post-Luka Doncic, that feels like the kind of stability the Dallas Mavericks need right now.
Irving declined his $43 million player option for the 2025-26 season and plans to sign a new three-year, $119 million contract with the Mavericks. NBA insider Shams Charania first reported the development.
BREAKING: Dallas Mavericks nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving is declining his $43 million player option and intends to sign a three-year, $119 million contract with the franchise, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes a player option in the 2027-28 season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2025
The nine-time All-Star averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 50 games last season before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee in March.
[ALSO READ: Mavericks star Kyrie Irving vows to be 'back and better' after season-ending ACL injury]
He underwent surgery later that month and is expected to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season, though he’s targeting a return by January 2026.
Since arriving in Dallas in early 2023, Irving has provided veteran leadership and on-court composure — helping guide the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024.
But Dallas stunned the league by trading five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers at the deadline, acquiring two-time champion Anthony Davis in return.
[ALSO READ: Outtanowhere: The Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis mega trade in Philippine terms]
Davis, however, played in only nine games after the trade, and Irving’s injury sent the team into a tailspin.
[ALSO READ: Domino effect in the Big D: Timeline of Dallas Mavericks injuries after Luka Doncic trade]
Dallas scraped into the Western Conference Play-In Tournament, defeating the Sacramento Kings in the first round but falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the next — officially missing the playoffs just a year removed from the Finals.
Then came another stroke of luck. With only a 1.8% chance, the Mavericks defied the odds and landed the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft — their first time atop the board since 1981.
[ALSO READ: Dallas Mavericks overcome odds to land no. 1 pick in 2025 NBA Draft]
They’re expected to use that selection on Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year, who could slot in alongside Irving, Davis and Klay Thompson as a key piece of Dallas’ next title push.
Earlier, the Mavericks also secured center Daniel Gafford on a three-year, $54 million deal to further solidify their frontcourt rotation.
