The Dallas Mavericks may catch up with the holiday star guard.
Kyrie Irving recovered from an ACL tear he suffered in March, and there is growing belief that a Christmas showdown with the Golden State Warriors could mark his return, Sports News reported.
For Dallas, potential timing is crucial. The Mavericks entered the blockbuster deal with high expectations this season and drafted Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick.
Despite the team’s flashes, chemistry and half-field execution are inconsistent. Irving’s return will be stable immediately.
Irving’s influence has always been clear. Since joining Dallas, he averaged 25.5 points, 5.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game, providing a shooting and playing balance to keep the defense on the edge. Last year, he scored 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists before the injury while shooting 47.3% from the field while shooting 40.1% from the field outside of ARC.
In his absence, Dallas tilted Davis, while rookie Flag showed a glimpse of star potential. But when the game slows down, Jason Kidd’s team sometimes struggles to create an offense.
Irving has the ability to create shots, determine the pace and punish the team’s ability to double-faced teams may be missing.
The Christmas payoff will also reintegrate Irving for a few months before the All-Star break. Sports News noted that this will “provide a huge spark and accelerate the team’s growth ahead of the playoffs.”
His championship lineage and late-game balance brings extra confidence to the Western Conference trying to drive.
If Irving does clash for the Warriors Clash, it’s not just a symbolic comeback in one of the NBA’s biggest stages, it could be a turning point in pushing Dallas from promising contenders to a real title threat.
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