In a stunning turn of events that has left the NBA and Dallas Mavericks fans reeling, veteran reporter Rachel Nichols has come out with some harsh words following Kyrie Irving’s season-ending ACL tear.
What Happened to Kyrie Irving?
During the Mavericks’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, March 3, Irving suffered a catastrophic injury early in the first quarter. While driving to the rim, he attempted a Euro step that ended disastrously; his left knee buckled and hyperextended as he landed awkwardly.
Somehow, he still managed to sink two free throws afterward before being helped off the court.
Kyrie was helped to the locker room after an apparent leg injury.
He stayed in the game and drained two FTs before leaving the court.
Hope he's okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/m2t3J8Z0Tl
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 4, 2025
The diagnosis was grim: a torn ACL that will keep the 32-year-old star sidelined for the rest of the 2024-25 NBA season and most likely into next season as well.
The injury comes as a particularly bitter pill to swallow considering Irving’s long history of battling injury issues throughout his 14-year career. From a fractured kneecap in the 2015 NBA Finals to recurring knee troubles in his stints with Cleveland, Boston, and Brooklyn, Irving has always struggled with some sort of injury.
Rachel Nichols’ Scathing Reaction
Fox Sports reporter Rachel Nichols didn’t mince words in her reaction. “Kyrie tearing his ACL wasn’t inevitable, but it wasn’t unimaginable either,” Nichols asserted on X. She went on to criticize the Mavericks’ management for their questionable decision-making.
Kyrie tearing his ACL wasn’t inevitable, but it wasn’t unimaginable either. Trading away a generational talent in his 20s for a 31-year-old with a significant injury history, then driving your 32-year-old star into the ground despite his own injury history is…extremely confusing https://t.co/Q6LgA1CrN5
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) March 4, 2025
Nichols highlighted a series of management missteps: trading away a generational talent in Luka Dončić for a veteran with “significant injury history” (Anthony Davis) and then overloading an already injury-prone Irving with an even greater workload.
In her view, driving a 32-year-old guard, already battling a well-documented history of knee issues, into the ground by playing him nearly 39 minutes a game over the past six weeks was nothing short of managerial malpractice.
Is Nichols Right?
When you just look plainly at the facts, Nichols’ assessment doesn’t seem too far off. Davis has been out with a groin injury since Feb. 20 and other key players like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II have been sidelined for weeks, making Irving the lone offensive engine following the loss of Dončić.
Over the past six weeks, Irving has logged an astounding 38.7 minutes per game, the highest in the NBA. For a 32-year-old with a well-known history of injuries, that workload was never going to be sustainable.
Injuries are an unfortunate reality in sports, but when they happen under circumstances like these, they become a symbol of much deeper systemic issues within the organization. As a result, fans need to demand accountability. Instead of accepting Irving’s injury as mere bad luck, they seriously need to question whether management truly has the team’s best interests at heart.
Looking Ahead
With just 20 games remaining on the schedule and a record of 32-30, just barely hanging on to a play-in spot (10th in the West), the Mavs now have to rely on bench players and hope that other injured stars return in time to salvage the season.
They’re right in the middle of the pack in terms of remaining strength of schedule, but there’s a realistic chance Davis, Gafford, and Lively all choose to sit out the remainder of the season, making missing out on the playoffs very much in the picture.
While it’s too early to say if this marks the end of an era for the Mavericks, one thing is clear: the current strategy isn’t working.