The Dallas Mavericks‘ season has been marred by injuries and unmet expectations. While the team had high hopes following NBA offseason moves, including the acquisition of Klay Thompson, injuries have repeatedly disrupted their progress. The latest setback came when star guard Kyrie Irving suffered an ACL injury during a matchup against the Sacramento Kings, further complicating the Mavericks’ playoff aspirations.
In the aftermath of Irving’s injury, speculation emerged among fans and analysts suggesting that his increased workload played a role in the unfortunate incident. Irving, however, challenged that theory. “Too many minutes???” Irving questioned on Instagram. “Or did I get knocked off balance?”
Before his injury, Irving was averaging an NBA-high 39.3 minutes per game — more than three minutes higher than his previous average. While fatigue is known to increase the risk of injuries, Irving seemed to imply that his injury was more a result of contact rather than excessive playing time.
Dallas facing uncertain road ahead
Irving’s remarks highlight his belief that the injury was more accidental than a result of overuse. The star guard appeared to lose his footing while driving to the basket, suggesting that an awkward fall — not fatigue — was the primary factor.
Kyrie Irving #11 and Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrate after a score during the second half against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center on November 03, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
This injury comes at a terrible time for Dallas, who remain without Anthony Davis as well. The Mavericks now find themselves heavily reliant on Klay Thompson, who arrived in Dallas with hopes of providing veteran leadership and a scoring boost.
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Jason Kidd on Klay Thompson’s role
Head coach Jason Kidd addressed the challenge of establishing a go-to scoring option amid the team’s growing list of absences. With Irving and Davis sidelined, Kidd emphasized that offensive success would require a collective effort.
“There’s no number one option — it’s the team,” Kidd told reporters. “Everyone touches the ball, and whoever’s open should take the shot. We’re not built to rely on just one player right now; it’s about playing together. Klay is one of the best — a future Hall of Famer — but we have to set screens and create those opportunities for him.”
As Dallas continues to battle adversity, Kidd’s message underscores the Mavericks’ need to lean on team basketball to stay afloat in an increasingly competitive NBA Western Conference.
