Still recovering from last season’s ACL injury, many expected Kyrie Irving to return to the field this time around. It looks like he is putting the brakes on returning for this season and recently announced that he will be sitting out the entire year.
According to Joey Mistretta of Clutch Points, Irving wrote a statement regarding the decision.
“This decision was not easy, but it is the right one. I am grateful to the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process,” Irving wrote. “I’m looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The confidence and enthusiasm I have is only growing.
“And I want to say a big thank you to all of my brothers and sisters who have torn ACLs or been injured doing the work they love to do every day. Thank you for the inspiration. No fear!”
Irving’s agent, Shetalia Riley Irving, told ESPN that this will help the Mavericks guard return to full strength next season.
“It’s about being 1000% when Kyrie comes back and giving ourselves the best chance to chase a championship next season,” Riley Irving said, via Shams Charania.
With the Mavericks at the bottom of the Western Conference standings and beginning to build the team around Cooper Flagg, Irving didn’t have much need to rush. Had they been fighting for a playoff spot, things probably would have been different, and he would have bounced back around the time he should have.
Sitting out the entire season gives Irving more time to get back to the player he was before the injury, which is one of the most dangerous scoring point guards out there. It will be interesting to see what he looks like when he returns next season.
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