Kyrie Irving’s NBA season for this year is officially over, which will serve as a brutal blow for the Dallas Mavericks. The star guard went down early in Monday’s 122-98 loss to the Kings, suffering what was initially diagnosed as a left knee sprain. But after further evaluation, an MRI confirmed the worst—a torn ACL in his left knee.
Irving’s injury drew a strong reaction from players and fans alike, especially given the fact that he was playing at an All-NBA level in recent months. However, his ACL tear could potentially keep him out of a large chunk of next season as well.
Irving’s teammate Klay Thompson addressed the situation the Mavs find themselves in at the moment, considering the Mavs were built to contend at the start of the season.
Klay Thompson Devastated By Kyrie Irving’s Injury
Thompson got emotional talking about Irving’s injury following the Mavs’ blowout 137-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on March 5. The former Warriors star termed the incident a “gut punch” for the basketball community and said it hurt watching his teammate go down like that.
“I haven’t been able to talk too much, but that was really a gut punch, not just for the Dallas Mavericks but for basketball fans around the globe. It’s like an unfillable void, so we gotta rally around him, gotta play hard for him. That one hurt seeing him go down, like that sucked. I know he’s gonna come back stronger, but just in the moment, it really sucks for everybody.”
Asked Klay Thompson about Kyrie Irving’s season-ending ACL injury:
“That was really a gut punch, not just for the Dallas Mavericks but for basketball fans around the globe.” pic.twitter.com/M26o4Ur1YN
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) March 6, 2025
Irving went down hard after attempting a layup in the first quarter against the Kings. The 2016 NBA champion stayed on the floor for several minutes in visible pain. He shot his free throws before exiting the game, but as tests confirmed the ACL tear the following day, Thompson is looking to play hard for Irving.
Thompson, who has himself suffered ACL tears, including in the 2019 NBA Finals, is looking to step up in Irving’s absence. He scored 28 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal against the Bucks, shooting 11/27 from the field and 6/14 from three-point land.
However, that wasn’t enough for the Mavs to win the game, and fans couldn’t help but feel for Thompson, who came to Dallas thinking he was the missing piece to help them win the NBA Championship. He has since seen Luka Dončić get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, witnessed Anthony Davis leave the court with a groin injury, and, ultimately, Irving’s season-ending injury.
“Klay went to Dallas hoping to be a missing piece to help get them over the hump and is now stuck on a cursed team. Guy is a multi-millionaire with four rings but damn,” a fan wrote on social media.
Klay went to Dallas hoping to be a missing piece to help get them over the hump and is now stuck on a cursed team.
Guy is a multi millionaire with four rings but damn
— 3x M’VP A’ja Wilson 😎 (@chris_bucks34) March 6, 2025
“I feel so bad for Klay, man. He didn’t sign up for this,” commented another fan.
At this point, Mavs fans’ disappointment is understandable, as the franchise is in the middle of a three-game losing streak. They have dropped to 32-31 in 63 games and stand 10th in the Western Conference. But with their problems and the 11th-seed Phoenix Suns looking to mount a comeback, their chances of making the play-in tournament are looking slim.
