For those outside the professional sports world, one of the biggest questions often asked is: What’s going through the minds of these players? How do they cope with the relentless pressure of the NBA—especially when the spotlight shines as brightly as it does on a global superstar like Dallas Mavericks‘ Kyrie Irving?
During a recent live stream, the Dallas Mavericks guard opened up in raw and deeply personal terms. He spoke directly to fans about his journey with mental health, emotional challenges, and the role that public platforms have played in his ongoing recovery. “It is Men’s Mental Health Awareness, but this is about awareness of your mental health,” Irving said. “This stream is helping me heal—that’s as simple as I can put it.”
Irving explained that stepping outside his comfort zone and creating better personal boundaries has become essential to his healing process. “I’m way more driven,” he added. “This is getting me to build more boundaries with myself. And if you’re just now joining in, this stream is helping me heal.”
He also addressed the isolation and emotional weight of injury recovery. “I’m at my house watching the Finals. I’m recovering from my ACL injury. I could be bogged down, I could be depressed in a way where I don’t want to share this with you guys,” he admitted. “But this is the raw, unfiltered, uncut stuff that you’re going to get—because you deserve it.”
Irving acknowledged that in the past, he let outside noise affect him more than it should have. “I’ve allowed people to spin the narrative,” he said. “I took advice from the wrong people at times. I let others violate my spiritual boundaries, and that led to a spiral of emotions.”
Irving knows what it means to suffer
The veteran guard clearly understands the depths of emotional pain. For Mental Health Awareness Month, he delivered a classroom-style message to fans: mental wellness is not something to be ignored—it’s a daily battle. And he speaks from experience.
“I know what it feels like to feel like you’re losing it all. To feel like you don’t want to be on this earth anymore,” he said. “Please, please—you guys—for Mental Health Awareness Month. This is for every day.”
“Don’t stay quiet. Don’t go into your shell,” Irving continued. “Reach out to your loved ones. Check in on them—on their mental and spiritual health. That doesn’t mean every day, but just call: How are you doing? I love you. That matters. I love each and every one of you. Thank you for the support.”
A difficult chapter for Irving
Irving’s words carry extra weight considering what he’s currently enduring. He tore his ACL in March 2025—an injury that not only ended his NBA season with the Mavericks but also cast doubt on his availability for the start of the 2025–26 season. Early estimates suggest a possible return around the All-Star break.
The road back has been anything but easy. For Irving, the recovery process has challenged him mentally and emotionally, not just physically. That’s why the Twitch stream wasn’t just entertainment—it was a form of therapy, an outlet to connect, express, and begin to heal.