Image Courtesy of WFAA
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL, as reported by ESPN Insider Shams Charania.
The injury occurred in the first quarter of the game when Irving collided knees with Kings center Jonas Valanciunas while driving to the basket. After the contact with Valanciunas, Irving seemed to hyperextend his left leg. Despite the pain, he made both free throws he was awarded from the foul and then was helped to the locker room by Anthony Davis.
Irving’s injury adds to an already extensive list of Mavericks players on the injury report, which has mostly impacted the team’s frontcourt. Other players on the list include Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Mavericks officially confirmed that Irving had torn the ACL in his left knee. This season, Irving was averaging 25 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 36.6 minutes per game.
In response to the outpouring of well-wishes, Irving took to Instagram Live to thank his supporters. His livestream was filled with messages of encouragement, including one from Pistons forward Lindy Waters III, who wrote, “Our people are with you.”
Staying positive, Irving reassured his followers, saying, “I will be back and I will be better. This is not the end of the story, this is just the beginning of a new chapter.” He ended the session on an uplifting note: “Don’t let anybody ever tell you to give up and don’t you dare give up on yourself.”
Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison also shared his thoughts on Irving in a statement Tuesday, calling him the “heart and soul” of the team.
“There are no words to fully express what Kyrie Irving means to this team and this organization,” Harrison said. “Kyrie is the heart and soul of this team, and he has embraced the city of Dallas as his home and our fans as an extension of his family. I’ve had the privilege of watching his journey and growth over the years, and I’m grateful to see him bring the same energy and passion to the game now as he did when he was just starting out. His work ethic and commitment to his craft are unmatched, and I see the same intensity and drive in him that I saw in Kobe Bryant.”
Harrison concluded with, “All of our thoughts are with Kyrie and his family, and we are confident he will come back stronger than ever, just like he always has.”