NBA Fans Torn On Kyrie Irving's Free Agency Decision
NBA Fans Torn On Kyrie Irving's Free Agency Decision originally appeared on The Spun.
Basketball fans didn't have to wait long to learn about Kyrie Irving's future.
Irving is declining his $43 million player option for the 2025-26 season. Although that'll technically make him a free agent, he won't test the open market. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Mavericks are expected to sign the All-Star guard to a three-year, $119 million contract.
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Charania added that Irving's new deal with the Mavericks is expected to include a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Irving, a nine-time All-Star, was having another strong year prior to going down with a knee injury. In fact, he averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game for the Mavericks this past season.
On paper, Irving's three-year, $119 million contract seems like a fair deal for him and the Mavericks. However, fans are a bit worried about him receiving that much money after just suffering a torn ACL.
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 12: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a free throw during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 12, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images
"40 mil for a 33 year old who just tore his ACL is insane," one fan declared.
"That's a lot of money for an aging point guard coming off a huge injury," a second fan said.
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"Solid deal for Dallas too. More flexibility for them, interested to see what they do with it," a third fan wrote.
"Took a slight pay cut," another fan commented.
"Great value for Dallas. Even post ACL Kyrie at $40 million a year is a bargain," a social media user argued.
If the Mavericks get Irving back healthy, they'll have a legit chance to contend in the Western Conference. The roster is set to add an impact player through the draft in Duke phenom Cooper Flagg. Of course, we also can't forget about Anthony Davis.
Only time will tell if the Mavericks made the right decision keeping Irving.
Related: Kendrick Perkins Criticized For 'Pathetic' Cooper Flagg Comparison
NBA Fans Torn On Kyrie Irving's Free Agency Decision first appeared on The Spun on Jun 25, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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