Mavericks spotlight Kyrie Irving in 'Blueprint' series

Missed all of 2025-26 ahead of 2026-27 return

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 48m1 min read

THE BLUEPRINT: No. 11 - Kyrie Irving. #MFFL https://t.co/UiWlenIwch Via @dallasmavs on X

What happened: Dallas made Irving its No. 11 entry in "The Blueprint" rollout ahead of the 2026-27 season. The announcement came during preseason as Irving prepares to return after missing the entire 2025-26 season.

Why it matters: Irving's availability shapes Dallas' backcourt alongside Cooper Flagg as the club pivots toward a 19-year-old timeline. Dallas previously rebuffed outside trade interest in July, keeping his 2026-27 start under early trade watch.

By the numbers: Irving is a nine-time All-Star with a 23.7 career scoring average. He missed the entire 2025-26 season and heard his name called at the AAC for the first time in 591 days.

What to watch: Watch Dallas' preseason rotation for Irving's minutes and backcourt pairings entering opening night.

Sources

@dallasmavs 2026-10-21T01:02:03.363289+00:00

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