Kyrie Irving still has huge role with Mavericks despite injury

Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in March and is not expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, with a potential return date set for January at the earliest.

Despite his injury, CBS Sports ranked Irving at No. 64 in their top 100 player rankings, citing the difficulty in evaluating his position due to his recovery. Jasmyn Wimbish of CBS Sports noted that if Irving plays 35-40 games this season and performs at pre-injury levels, he could deliver highly efficient scoring, leveraging his exceptional ball-handling skills to boost the Mavericks' performance upon his return.

The Mavericks' season outcomes heavily depend on when Irving returns and his effectiveness after the injury, as he enters his 15th NBA season. In his absence, players like Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and the supporting cast are expected to maintain the team's competitiveness, potentially making the Mavericks a stronger contender in the second half of the season if they can stay afloat initially.

The Mavericks have concluded their preseason and are finalizing preparations for the NBA regular season, with their first game scheduled against the San Antonio Spurs, featuring players such as Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper.