Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving won't return to the court until the 2026-27 NBA season.

The Mavericks announced Wednesday that Irving won't play this season with his focus on rehabbing from the ACL surgery performed nearly one year ago.

"This decision wasn't easy, but it's the right one," Irving said in a statement. "I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. 

"I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows.

"And I wanted to send a huge shoutout to ALL of my brothers and sisters out there who've torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they love to do every day. THANK YOU for the inspiration. No fear!"

This morning we announced that Kyrie Irving will not return to play during the 2025-26 NBA season as he continues his recovery from ACL reconstruction surgery performed in 2025.

Can’t wait until you’re back on the court, Kai #MFFL pic.twitter.com/VQPzo8000p

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 18, 2026

A nine-time All-Star selection, Irving has been sidelined since tearing the ACL in his left leg during the Mavs' 122-98 defeat to the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2025.

The 33-year-old was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 50 games in the 2024-25 season prior to his injury.

Irving teamed with Luka Doncic to lead the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, but things have changed drastically for the franchise since then.

Doncic was shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade last February for Anthony Davis, but the oft-injured big man appeared in just 29 games for the Mavericks before being traded to the Washington Wizards two weeks ago.

Dallas did get a lucky break in last year's draft lottery and selected Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall, but he's been unable to deliver many wins with the depleted roster.

Less than two years after the Mavs' trip to the Finals, the franchise sits in 12th place in the Western Conference with a 19-35 record on the heels of a nine-game losing streak.