Mavericks' Kyrie Irving reportedly undergoes successful surgery to repair left ACL tear

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving successfully underwent surgery for a torn left ACL at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. The injury occurred during a March 3 loss to the Sacramento Kings when Irving's knee bent awkwardly during a drive to the basket, leading to his season-ending diagnosis.

In an Instagram Live session shortly after the injury, Irving acknowledged the emotional toll while expressing optimism about his recovery: "It hasn't been 48 hours since I tore my ACL, but the recovery process already started mentally, spiritually, emotionally... This one stings for sure." The 33-year-old faces an extensive rehabilitation process, having previously undergone surgeries on the same knee in 2015 (fractured kneecap) and 2018 (hardware removal).

Irving's injury compounds a challenging period for the Mavericks, who have lost Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford to injuries. The team's February trade sending Luka Dončić to acquire Anthony Davis backfired when Davis suffered an injury during his debut, though he has since made a limited return. Since Irving's injury, the short-handed Mavericks have lost eight of their last eleven games.