Kyrie Irving has dazzled fans for over a decade with his handles and clutch performances, but in a recent Twitch livestream, the Dallas Mavericks star offered insight into one of the most painful moments of his career: the moment he tore his ACL.
The injury occurred on March 3, 2025, during a game against the Sacramento Kings. With Anthony Davis already sidelined, Irving had become the focal point of the Mavericks’ offense. But in the first quarter, disaster struck.
“I see Jonas Valančiūnas, I see an angle right here,” Irving recalled. “Bro, I tried to go through, I tried to split them. And when I tried to split, I stepped on Jonas’s foot. That took me elevated from the ground… when I tried to plant here, it hyperextended. And then I threw the ball up. That’s when I was on the ground—and I felt it”.
Kyrie Irving breaks down the play that he tore his ACL
(Via @KyrieIrving/Twitch) pic.twitter.com/fDjjYBwcVi
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 11, 2025
The moment was chilling not just for Irving, but for Mavericks fans who watched their playoff hopes unravel in real time. Irving, ever the competitor, stayed on the floor long enough to sink two free throws before exiting the game for good.
In a follow-up stream, Irving shared his mindset during recovery:
“Don’t hold your breath on that… I just want to be back 150,000% better. I’m taking my time right now to really get healthy… I just want to be back out there”.
The injury has sidelined Irving for the remainder of the 2024–25 season, and his return timeline remains uncertain. At age 33, and with a history of knee issues, the Mavericks are expected to take a cautious approach to his rehab.
