Mavericks star Kyrie Irving underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a broken left hand, casting doubt on his availability for the beginning of the 2024-2025 NBA season.
The injury occurred during training earlier this month, according to the team’s announcement. Although the NBA season is less than three months away, ESPN reports there is optimism that Irving could recover in time for training camp.
Irving, an eight-time All-Star, had an impressive first full season with the Mavericks, playing 58 games and averaging 25.6 points, five rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, with shooting splits of 49.7% from the field, 41.1% from three-point range, and 90.5% from the free-throw line. Despite his strong performance throughout the season, his production dipped in the Finals, where he averaged 19.8 points and five assists over five games.
During the offseason, Irving played a crucial role in attracting Golden State legend Klay Thompson to the Mavericks. Thompson is expected to start as the team’s small forward in the upcoming season, a move confirmed by NBA insider Shams Charania.
The combination of Luka Doncic, Irving, and Thompson is anticipated to be a formidable lineup for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks are hopeful that Irving’s recovery will be swift, allowing him to join the team for the new season and build on their previous successes.
