Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving recently underwent surgery to repair a broken left hand suffered earlier this month while he was training, the club announced Tuesday. The team did not provide a specific timetable for the 32-year-old’s return, but ESPN reported that the Mavericks are optimistic Irving will be ready for the start of training camp in a couple of months.
Irving, an eight-time All-Star, played a pivotal role in Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals, where the Mavericks were defeated by the Boston Celtics in five games last month. During the playoffs, Irving averaged 22.1 points and 5.1 assists in 22 games, following a regular season where he posted 25.6 points and 5.2 assists per game. He was aiming for his second NBA championship, having previously won with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Selected No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2011, Irving has averaged 23.6 points and 5.7 assists over 13 seasons with Cleveland, Boston, the Brooklyn Nets, and Dallas. He joined the Mavericks in a trade with the Nets in February 2023 and signed an extension with Dallas the following offseason.
Irving also reportedly played a key role in luring free agent Klay Thompson to Dallas earlier this month. Thompson, a long-time standout for the Golden State Warriors, decided to join the Mavericks, bolstering the team’s aspirations for the upcoming season.
The Mavericks will undoubtedly be counting on Irving’s swift recovery as they prepare for training camp and aim for another deep playoff run with their strengthened roster.
