What happened: Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May said he plans to rely heavily on Kyrie Irving as he steps into his first NBA head-coaching role. "As a first-time NBA coach, I am going to lean on him in a lot of areas," May said of the veteran guard. The remark came as May continues his introductory run with the franchise.

Why it matters: The comment signals that Irving remains central to Dallas's plans heading into the 2026-27 season, even as trade speculation has swirled around him this offseason. For a first-time head coach, a respected veteran can anchor the locker room and on-court decision-making. It also frames the working relationship between a new bench boss and the team's most experienced playmaker.

What to watch: Watch for how May defines Irving's leadership role through training camp and whether the offseason trade chatter quiets now that the coach has publicly committed to building around him.