Kyrie Irving Publicly Attempts to Steady Mavericks Locker Room as Season Continues to Spiral After 4th Consecutive Loss

The Dallas Mavericks' recent home success came to an end on Thursday night, losing 123-108 to the Philadelphia 76ers after winning their previous five games at the American Airlines Arena. Despite the loss extending Dallas’ skid to four straight games, Kyrie Irving doesn’t want his teammates to lose their morale.

Even though Kyrie Irving has been sidelined for the entire season and has not been able to help on the court, he continues to make his presence felt in the locker room. Following the loss, Irving sent a message to encourage his teammates and the fan base, urging everyone not to get demotivated by the rough stretch.

“Tribe, stay together no matter what. The Journey is the Reward 🤞🏾🪶♾,” Irving wrote on X.

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Dallas’ star pairing of Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis struggled, finishing with a combined 25 points on 11-of-28 shooting while grabbing 15 rebounds. With their two top scoring options unable to find rhythm, the Mavericks ended the night scoring nearly six points below their season average.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, witnessed a dominant performance from Tyrese Maxey. The guard recorded a 34-point, 10-assist double-double alongside eight rebounds, leading the 76ers to clinch a 2-0 regular-season series win over the Mavericks.

Jason Kidd not to be disappointed if Kyrie Irving doesn’t return before All-Star Weekend

Kyrie Irving suffered a potentially career-ending injury during the 2024-2025 season after tearing his left ACL in March. Since then, his recovery has been impressive, with reports suggesting he could even return during the 2025-2026 season.

“The expectation is that Kyrie [Irving] at some point in the season’s second half, will give Dallas two number one overall picks from Duke in the same starting five,” Marc Stein reported.

However, the Mavericks are not rushing their star guard’s return. Dallas coach Jason Kidd implied that Irving’s long-term health matters more than a quick return, noting that he would not be disappointed if Irving is unable to play before All-Star Weekend.

Dallas has clearly felt Kyrie Irving’s absence. Nearly halfway through the season, the Mavericks sit 13th in the Western Conference with a 12–23 record. However, their season is far from over. They are just 2.5 games behind the #10 Portland Trail Blazers and could make up ground quickly with a favorable stretch ahead against the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, and Chicago Bulls.

Edited by Advait Jajodia