Kyrie Irving suffered a devastating knee injury during the Dallas Mavericks’ game against the Sacramento Kings. However, Irving chose to remain in the game to shoot two free throws before departing.
Mavericks fans showed their appreciation for Irving’s grit while he was taking his free throws.
Dallas Mavericks Fans Chanted ‘MVP’ at Kyrie Irving For Gutsy Free Throws
Irving fans heard the cheers of support from the Dallas faithful while attempting to play through the pain.
He chose to shoot the free throws because of the NBA’s rule that would have prevented him from re-entering the game after being subbed out for those shots. By attempting the free throws, Irving opened the door for him to return if the injury was less significant than it seemed.
Irving did not end up returning to action. The Mavericks lost 122-98.
Mavs fans chanted "MVP" for Kyrie Irving while he was at the free throw line before he exited the game 🗣pic.twitter.com/0JxK5fftmj https://t.co/NPHCxD3rUy
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 4, 2025
Not only did Irving get approval from Mavericks fans, but he also channeled his inner Kobe Bryant, as the late Los Angeles Lakers legend also took two free throws after tearing his Achilles towards the end of the 2012-13 season.
Irving may not have torn his Achilles, but he proved his toughness by playing what could be a similarly serious injury. He deserves props for staying in long enough to help the Mavericks, making both free throws when he was clearly injured in some capacity.
Bryant was one of Irving’s biggest influences as a basketball player, so it’s no surprise that Irving took the opportunity to emulate one of his idols when the opportunity presented itself.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that Irving suffered a torn ACL, ending his season.
Irving’s teammate Klay Thompson did the same thing back when he played for the Golden State Warriors. After tearing his ACL while being fouled during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Thompson managed to come back in to take his free throws before exiting the game.
After Irving left multiple fanbases with a bad taste in their mouths, it’s encouraging to see one embrace him through thick and thin. Irving has proven his worth for Dallas since they acquired him in 2023, having helped them make the NBA Finals last year.
Mavericks fans haven’t had much to cheer for these days. Between the Luka Dončić trade and the team’s rampant injuries, it’s been a pretty rough season all around. However, they were able to demonstrate their appreciation for Irving, the team’s last star standing before Monday night.
It has recently been announced by Shams Charania that Kyrie has torn his ACL and will be out for the rest of the season. It certainly looks like the Mavs’ playoff hopes are done and dusted now, considering the fact that Anthony Davis is also sidelined.
