All-Star guard Kyrie Irving opted out of the final year of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks for the 2025-26 season and plans to sign a three-year, $119 million deal with the Mavs, according to ESPN.
Irving, 33, had one season and $42.9 million left on his three-year, $120 million deal but decided to seek a longer contract. He underwent surgery on March 26 for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee – an injury sustained against the Sacramento Kings – and will miss a significant portion of next season.
As the Mavericks try to maintain roster flexibility under the salary cap, they plan to sign Irving to a longer deal but at an amount closer to $40 million per season. Irving opting out and planning to sign at a lower number should give the Mavs access to a $5.7 million mid-level exception for a roster addition, according to ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks.
Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals and shot 47.3% from the field, 40.1% on 3-pointers and 91.6% from the free throw line this season. He made the All-Star team for the ninth time in 2025.
The Mavericks are expected to take Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the draft on Wednesday, June 25, assembling a team that features Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Klay Thompson, Max Christie, Irving and Flagg.
Dallas lost to Boston in the 2024 NBA Finals and missed the playoffs this season. The Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline, a move that didn’t sit well with Mavs fans. However, the Mavs won the draft lottery with 1.8% odds and rekindled their championship aspirations.
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