“The competitive spirit inside of me wants to get back on the court, but also the human side of me has to give my body time to heal.” That was Kyrie Irving after suffering from a right heel injury which led him to miss 12 straight games earlier this year. After their NBA Finals journey, no doubt they look like a force to reckon with, and expectation-wise nothing had changed. But just as they were gearing up with that classic Championship-bound Maverick attitude, there was bad news lurking around the corner.

It’s not always the inconsistency that holds a team back. Player injuries and health issues also share the blame. With the team already facing Luka Doncic‘s absence and bruised condition, Kyrie Irving’s latest injury in July that required him to undergo surgery came like a tight slap across the face. What does this spell out for his NBA action this season? And most importantly, will he be in good shape to make it to the match against the Grizzlies, or are we pushing it too hard?

Marc Stein, fortunately, has the answer, “A number of Mavericks are practicing together in Los Angeles this week and league sources tell my podcast partner @ChrisBHaynes and me that Kyrie Irving has been in attendance even though he is not yet cleared to play 5-on-5. Irving had surgery in July to repair a broken hand.”

It was during an offseason workout that Kyrie Irving broke his left hand. The Dallas star, however, is no stranger to injuries hampering his game when he’s riding on his career-high wave. What do the record books suggest?

Kyrie Irving – Injuries that only made him stronger!

The 32-year-old Kyrie Irving averaged 25.6 points in 58 games in the last regular season while facing foot, heel, and thumb injuries. With an accuracy of 49.7% from the field, above 40% from 3, and an enviable 90.5% from the charity stripe, Irving is just a few shots away from joining the elite 50-40-90 club of Larry Bird, Steve Nash and Kevin Durant in the multiple seasons they have played so far.

However, history isn’t too kind when we talk about Kyrie Irving and his injuries. It was also a cause of concern as the 8x All-Star had also missed out on the 2023 NBA playoff matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. He was nursing a sprained right thumb and also could not join the team owing to an injury he sustained during Dallas’ heartbreaking 119-110 loss to the Boston Celtics in 2024.

The kneecap fracture during the 2015 finals while playing for the Cavaliers also caused him to miss action for more than 5 months at a stretch. Back then, having got injured midway through the overtime, they ended up losing, and Irving had called it a “freak play”.

But Dallas was not where this star, known for his strategic scoring prowess and ball handling, had always belonged. Back in 2023, when the Brooklyn Nets traded Irving to Dallas, there was ongoing speculation about whether he would find his spot of comfort alongside Luka Doncic’s incredible offense. Yet Irving simply took off and showed that the Dallas had found their missing piece. In his first 20 games with the Mavs, he averaged 27 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds!

Flash forward to a year later, Irving maintained the same action streak and helped the Mavs bag the fifth seed. This came off as a surprise for the Mavs fans, but Irving showcased the winner’s mindset and the promise to deliver; he could surely be counted on.

It would also be interesting to note how the addition of Klay Thompson would pan out for them this season. Having clinched the title in 2011 and facing a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of the Celtics last season, Dallas has been going through parched seasons. With a speedy recovery and a physically fit Kai back on the court, the team might be expecting those much-anticipated showers of blessing!

Till then all eyes on the upcoming clash of the Mavericks vs Grizzlies!