Anthony Davis shares how Kyrie Irving inspires the Mavericks after a tough injury

The duo of Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving seemed like an unstoppable force for the Mavericks—one that could strike fear into any opponent. But while Davis’s trade to Dallas was finalized, these two stars never actually got the chance to play together.

Initially, Anthony Davis was the one sidelined due to injury. Just as he was gearing up to return to the court, Kyrie Irving suffered a devastating blow, tearing his ACL. The injury will keep him out for the rest of the season, leaving fans to wait for the dream of seeing Davis and Irving dominate the court together.

Anthony Davis opens up

Now, Anthony Davis has spoken candidly about the situation, which impacts not just Irving but the entire team. After the game against the Nets, Davis described Irving’s injury as heartbreaking. “It was devastating. Obviously, Ky is a phenomenal basketball player. But even more so, he’s phenomenal as a person. Anytime someone goes through something like this—a major injury—it’s just horrible.”

It’s been a few weeks since the incident, allowing the dust to settle. According to Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving is now in a much better mental space about it. “After the initial injury and those first moments, I just wanted to give him some space. Then he came back to the locker room, let it all out, and now, as you know, he’s pumped for rehabilitation. He’s on a roll now… he’s in a good mental place.”

Optimism above all

Despite the severity of the injury and the abrupt end to his season, Kyrie Irving’s optimism has become a source of inspiration for everyone in the Mavericks locker room, says Anthony Davis.

“He’s been around the team. He’s on the bench, so seeing him in a great mental state is uplifting for all of us. It’s good for me, and I’m pretty sure it’s good for him too. Of course, it’s a bummer, but we’ve got to stay strong this season. And, well, there’s always next season when he’s ready to make his comeback.”

As of now, there’s no exact timeline for Irving’s return to the court. It all depends on his rehabilitation and recovery process. Some analysts even suggest that Irving might miss part of the next season. If that’s the case, the leadership of the team will fall squarely on Anthony Davis’s shoulders and the rest of the players. The entire squad will need to keep morale high and maintain strong performances while they await their star’s return.

A stellar season

Just before his injury, Irving was having one of the best seasons of his career. During that period, Anthony Davis was out of action, which meant Irving was shouldering the team’s burden alone. This responsibility elevated his stats to an impressive 24.7 points per game and nearly five assists. But when the injury struck, fans were left devastated about the team’s playoff prospects.

Like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving has also had the chance to reflect on his injury. He admitted that the moment he got injured was incredibly painful, and he even took a free throw through tears. Irving revealed that his mind went to the late legend Kobe Bryant, who faced a similar Achilles injury.

 

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“I started thinking about all those who came before me. Especially Kobe,” Irving said, referring to the moment when Bryant famously made two free throws after tearing his Achilles tendon. “At that moment, I felt like my season was over. I was in pain. I was crying. Millions of people were watching me. Millions were praying for me… So they feel my pain. They might not feel the physical pain, but they feel the emotional weight I carry. And I just wanted to be strong,” Irving confessed. For now, he remains off the court, fully supporting Anthony Davis and the Mavericks.