The Aporia · Mavericks' Irving says he's ready to 'kick some butt' after ACL injury sidelined him for 19 months

Mavericks' Irving says he's ready to 'kick some butt' after ACL injury sidelined him for 19 months

Read the original at Toronto Star ↗

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The Associated Press. (2026, September 25). Mavericks' Irving says he's ready to 'kick some butt' after ACL injury sidelined him for 19 months. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/mavericks-irving-says-he-s-ready-to-kick-some-butt-after-acl-injury-sidelined-him-for-19-months/article_14ceab81-11c6-50e0-883e-1574f26c08a0.html

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Kyrie Irving, the veteran Dallas Mavericks guard, recently addressed media for the first time since his ACL injury on March 3, 2025, which sidelined him for 19 months. At age 34 and entering year 16 of his career, Irving expressed confidence in his recovery and readiness to play, stating he feels no physical restrictions. The team’s new president, Masai Ujiri, echoed Irving's optimism about his health status as the Mavericks prepare for a revamped season with a new coach, Dusty May, and rookie sensation Cooper Flagg.

Written by AI on 2026-09-25, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Kyrie Irving, a veteran guard for the Dallas Mavericks, declared during the team's preseason media day on Friday that he feels no physical limitations from his left knee injury, which had sidelined him for 19 months. He stated confidently that he is ready to return and compete at a high level. The 34-year-old player acknowledged the skepticism surrounding his comeback but emphasized his championship confidence and eagerness to prove himself on the court again.

Irving's recovery from the torn ACL injury, which occurred in March 2025, marks a significant milestone for the Mavericks, who finished last season with a record of 26-56, their worst performance in eight years. The team's president, Masai Ujiri, expressed optimism about Irving’s return to full health and readiness for game play.

The player noted that his extended absence provided him time for personal growth both on and off the court. Irving highlighted the importance of setting an example as a man beyond just being a basketball player.

Written for “Mavericks Irving Injury Return” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

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Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

13%

4 of 30 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

64/100

Toronto Star's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Analyzed 2026-09-25 · how these are computed

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Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

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Running correction rate · 28 correction(s)

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Who wrote this

The Associated Press

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Topics

DALLAS Dallas Mavericks Mavericks Michigan NCAA

Subjects

Irving GPE · 6× Mavericks ORG · 4× DALLAS GPE · 3× Kyrie PERSON · 2× May PERSON · 2× Michigan GPE · 2× Ujiri PERSON · 2× Dallas Mavericks ORG · 1× Kyrie Irving PERSON · 1× Masai Ujiri PERSON · 1×

Narrative

DALLAS (AP) — Veteran Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving said Friday he’s under no physical restrictions from the torn ACL in his left knee that sidelined him 19 months ago, an injury that he called “probably the best thing that happened to me.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-25

🔮 Irving – and all the Mavericks – will play for a revamped franchise after last season’s 26-56 lottery finish, Dallas’ worst in eight years.

2026-09-25 · Toronto Star

Mavericks' Irving says he's ready to 'kick some butt' after ACL injury sidelined him for 19 months · assertive framing

Claims (30 extracted, 4 hedged)

that → say → me

“I’m ready to go out there and kick some butt,” Irving, 34, said during the team’s preseason media day, the first time that he’s addressed the media since the March 3, 2025 injury. asserted

he → ’m → injury

“I know that naysayers or some of the questions around where I’m going to be are going to be inevitable. asserted

I → know → questions

But for me, I have the confidence of a champion. … asserted

I → have → champion

This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type of league, and everybody wants to see it up close. asserted

everybody → do → it

So, I’m looking forward to being able to lace up my shoes and being on the court with my teammates and show everybody what I got again. asserted

I → look → what

It’s just like riding a bike. asserted

It → ’ → bike

“In terms of health, he’s right there,” new team president Masai Ujiri said. asserted

Ujiri → ’ → health

“You hope he plays games and he gets right back into it.” asserted

he → hope → it

Irving said the time away from competitive play gave him time for reflection. asserted

time → say → reflection

“On where I want to be as a player and most importantly where do I want to be as a man,” he said. asserted

he → want → man

“How can people look to me to be a better leader, a better communicator, be more emotional, vulnerable. asserted

people → look → me

Being 34 years old, I’m going on year 16. asserted

I → go → year

But I think me as a competitor out there, you never have to worry about me falling short of (putting) my best foot forward out there.” asserted

me → think → foot

Irving – and all the Mavericks – will play for a revamped franchise after last season’s 26-56 lottery finish, Dallas’ worst in eight years. asserted

Irving → play → years

Ujiri was hired in early May, then hired Dusty May in late June as coach to replace Jason Kidd. uncertain

Ujiri → hire → Kidd

May, who led Michigan to last season’s NCAA title, becomes the first coach to go directly from college basketball to an NBA head job since John Beilein left Michigan for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019. uncertain

Beilein → lead → 2019

Asked about being a rookie head man coaching Irving, a nine-time All-Star, May said, “Kyrie has seen and done as much as just about anyone in the association. uncertain

Kyrie → ask → association

I would expect that I’m only going to coach him when I’m able to add value.” asserted

I → expect → value

Irving will finally play alongside Cooper Flagg, last season’s unanimous rookie of the year. asserted

Irving → play → year

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to grow with him,” Irving said. asserted

Irving → look → him

”High-level basketball players, no matter the age – you put us out there, we’re going to win some ballgames.” asserted

we → put → ballgames

“Having somebody like that out there on the court with you at all times is going to be amazing,” Flagg said. asserted

Flagg → have → times

“The time that we’ve been able to spend in the summer on the court together has been good for both of us to kind of build that connection. asserted

both → spend → connection

I’m really excited. asserted

I → ’m → ?

I think it’s going to be really fun to share the court. asserted

it → think → court

“The uniqueness of seeing what Kyrie, Cooper, that combination could do with all the players we have, with Dusty, I’m curious to see what that looks like,” Ujiri said. uncertain

Ujiri → see → what

The Mavericks on Friday announced the re-signing of Dwight Powell, the dean of current Mavericks, having joined the club in December 2014 during his rookie season following a trade from Boston. asserted

Mavericks → announce → Boston

Dallas begins its preseason with two games against the Houston Rockets in Macao, China beginning Oct. 9. asserted

Dallas → begin → Oct.

The Mavericks open their regular season at Houston on Oct. 21 with their home opener on Oct. 24 against the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs. asserted

Mavericks → open → champion