Kyrie Irving gives update on his knee and his status for the 2026-27 season

Kyrie Irving gave an update on his knee as he prepares for the 2026-27 NBA season. “No restrictions,” he said Friday, adding that he will have conversations with the medical staff about back-to-back games and his level of readiness, and that he will be evaluated day by day. Irving is also emphasizing the mental aspect of recovering from a serious injury, but stressed he will not seek excuses.

According to Bleacher Report, Irving did not play at all during the 2025-26 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in March 2025. Since then he has ramped up his training load, taken part in informal summer games and earned praise for his shape and movement from fellow players on the court.

In the 2024-25 season, before the injury, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 47.3/40.1/91.6 percent, and earned his ninth All-Star call-up. Dallas finished last season 26-56 and is expected to seek improvement in the Western Conference standings, with Cooper Flagg arriving as one of the team’s forwards.

The Mavericks open the 2026-27 campaign on October 21 against the Houston Rockets; Irving’s availability for the opening games will be determined by ongoing evaluations and communication with the medical staff. Bleacher Report notes that the club’s support and day-by-day monitoring will be decisive for his participation.