What happened: Kyrie Irving spoke at Mavericks Media Day ahead of the 2026-27 season. He said walking into a gym lets him raise the level of play and bring out the best in teammates. He tied that approach to sharing knowledge while rehabbing his injury last season.

Why it matters: Dallas opens camp with Kyrie Irving working back from last season's injury absence. His availability shapes the backcourt rotation and early-season workload distribution.

What to watch: Dallas continues training camp ahead of the 2026-27 season.