Kyrie Irving’s ACL rehab Ahead of schedule, says Mavericks GM Nico Harrison

The Dallas Mavericks received a significant boost of optimism this week as General Manager Nico Harrison revealed that star guard Kyrie Irving is making exceptional progress in his recovery from a torn ACL.

“Kyrie’s ahead of schedule, but we kind of knew he would be because of the way he attacks his rehab,” Harrison said during an interview at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. “He’s going two, three times a day.”

Irving suffered the injury in early March and underwent successful surgery shortly after. While the typical recovery timeline for a torn ACL ranges between 8 and 12 months, Harrison’s comments suggest the 32-year-old guard could return on the earlier end of that window—possibly as soon as January or February of 2026. However, Harrison made it clear the Mavericks will prioritize long-term health over urgency.

“We don’t want him to rush it as much as he wants to rush it, but he’s going to be fine,” Harrison added.

Irving, who averaged 23.7 points and 5.9 assists before the injury, was one of the few veterans remaining on the Mavericks following their stunning decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal back in February. The trade, which brought Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future first-round pick to Dallas, marked the end of the Dončić era and sparked significant backlash from fans.

Now, with Dončić in purple and gold, the Mavericks are building around Davis, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, and a hopefully healthy Irving. The trio could form a new identity for Dallas built around length, defense, and versatility.

In Irving’s absence, the Mavericks added D’Angelo Russell to help bridge the gap at point guard. But make no mistake—Dallas is counting on Kyrie to return and lead this revamped group on the floor.

Reports from Irving’s camp show a locked-in approach to his recovery. A recent workout video revealed him going through resistance drills, lateral movement tests, and range-of-motion exercises, suggesting he’s hitting key benchmarks on schedule.

What’s Next

As the 2025–26 season approaches, Irving’s health will remain a major storyline. While the team is encouraged by his progress, they’re not rushing him. A full-strength Kyrie could be the missing piece to Dallas’s postseason push in the post-Dončić era.