Kyrie Irving returned to the floor in Macau after a 586-day absence, logging 17 points in 22 minutes during a preseason game against the Houston Rockets and offering the Dallas Mavericks a tangible glimpse of their post-rebuild floor general.
Masai Ujiri Outlines the Blueprint for Dallas
The Mavericks enter the 2026–27 campaign attempting to pivot following a difficult 26–56 finish that left them twelfth in the Western Conference. Following the departures of Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis, the franchise has shifted its core toward Cooper Flag, the first overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft who secured Rookie of the Year honors last season. To steady the roster through this transition, the organization appointed Dusty May as head coach and named Masai Ujiri as team president and alternate governor in May 2026.
Masai Ujiri speaks on Kyrie’s future with the Mavericks:“Kevin Durant once told me that there's only one Kyrie [Irving] walking around in the world. I think we have to figure out a way, how Kyrie fits with our program. I've had those conversations with Kyrie, up till yesterday… pic.twitter.com/RX2sBZOUTy”
Ujiri addressed the roster’s direction during an appearance on The Hoop Collective podcast, pointing directly to Irving’s unique offensive gravity as the stabilizing force for a young group. “Kevin Durant said it, I think—Kyrie is one of one in this world,” Ujiri said on the program, emphasizing his absolute confidence in the veteran guard’s ability to anchor the new regime.
How Irving Unlocks Cooper Flag and the Young Roster
Ujiri highlighted Irving’s specific stylistic traits as vital to easing the developmental burden on Flag and his peers. According to the team president, Irving creates defensive breakdowns simply by operating with the basketball, generating the floor spacing necessary for younger, less experienced teammates to find rhythm.
“Kyrie confuses people and creates spacing,” Ujiri said. “He can get you a bucket by himself, and that makes life easier for several guys on the floor.”
While Flag proved his capability during an impressive debut campaign, Ujiri noted that sustainable growth for the supporting cast requires a proven guard who reads defensive rotations and dictates tempo. Having known Irving for years and maintained a steady dialogue since taking control of basketball operations, Ujiri acknowledged that watching the veteran coexist with Flag remains the most intriguing storyline of the upcoming season.
Preseason Return Establishes a Baseline in Macau
Irving’s recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament reached its latest milestone abroad, as the guard made his unofficial return against Houston at the Venetian Arena in Macau. Leading his team in scoring during limited action, Irving expressed satisfaction with his physical condition after the final buzzer.
“It was a great feeling to get out there and perform at a high level,” Irving said after logging 17 points in 22 minutes.
With Irving reintegrated into the lineup alongside Flag, the Mavericks will continue their preseason preparations ahead of the NBA regular-season schedule.
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