Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is asking for patience as he continues to recover from ACL surgery. Speaking candidly during a recent Twitch stream, later reposted to YouTube and highlighted by Hoopshype, the 33-year-old made it clear that fans won’t be getting a timeline anytime soon.
“There’s no timetable for when I’m coming back, so please don’t ask me when I’m coming back,” Irving said. “Please don’t badger me with all the questions like, ‘Hey, if you’re healthy by November, what do you think about it?’ Please don’t badger me with any questions, guys. I’m going to be ready when I’m ready. I’m taking the necessary steps to put my best foot forward—and I’m enjoying it.”
Irving tore his ACL in March, and while recovery timelines can vary, most players typically return within nine to 12 months. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told reporters at media day that the veteran guard is “doing quite well” but emphasized that he’s “not ahead of schedule.”
Irving spoke openly about the emotional side of his rehab, acknowledging the uncertainty that came after the injury.
“I appreciate you guys being there to support me during my, uh, kind of down times—when I was dealing with my ACL and dealing with not necessarily knowing, okay, whether or not I’m going to be back to where I was at,” he said. “And of course, there was doubt. Naturally, I have doubt like everyone else. But I was fueled by the next generation even more—because I know when I’m able to show the resilience, the authenticity, the ugly times that go on with rehab or coming back from injury—I feel like that will, in turn, spark the next brain or inspire the next person. Or inspire some of my ACL twins out there—you know, that tore their ACL and dealt with all of the rigors of rehab. So shout out to all you guys.”
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