DALLAS — Following the Dallas Mavericks’ Monday morning shootaround, the team’s four rookies serenaded their Hall of Fame coach and future Hall of Fame point guard with “Happy Birthday.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd celebrated his 53rd birthday, while Kyrie Irving marked his 34th.
“There was an attempt at ‘Happy Birthday,’” Kidd remarked.
“I don’t think they liked it very much,” rookie guard Ryan Nembhard conceded.
Kidd’s acquaintance with Irving dates back to his tenure with the New Jersey Nets in the early 2000s, where Irving, then a promising prospect, admired Kidd’s exceptional ballhandling and passing prowess. Their time together in Dallas has seen significant highs, including a 2024 NBA Finals appearance, and challenging lows, such as Irving’s ACL tear in his left knee in March 2025, just weeks after the Mavericks acquired Luka Dončić.
In February, the Mavericks announced Irving would miss the remainder of the current season. By the time he steps back onto the court next season, Irving will have endured over 19 months without playing in an official game.
Kidd is unequivocally confident that once Irving is fully recovered, he will significantly boost the Mavericks’ offense, particularly in critical late-game scenarios.
“On the offensive end of the ball, it will help in all categories,” Kidd stated. “Shooting. Scoring. And the biggest (thing) is, you have a closer. A born closer.”
This season, the Mavericks have participated in 40 “clutch” games (defined as games within five points in the final five minutes), tying for the most in the NBA. Their record in these contests is a disappointing 15-25, and they’re averaging 103.6 points per 100 possessions in “clutch” minutes, ranking sixth-worst among all teams.
“I’m not going to say he’s going to win all 40 games for you, but it puts you in a better seat,” Kidd commented regarding Irving’s return. “Having that option will definitely help us if we are going to talk about next season.”
In Irving’s prolonged absence, rookie forward Cooper Flagg has often been Dallas’ primary late-game scoring option, frequently delivering with 85 “clutch” points on 45 percent shooting. However, Irving’s impact has been sorely missed in numerous situations, notably last Saturday when the Mavericks, now on an 11-game home losing streak, failed to secure a win against the LA Clippers in regulation, ultimately losing in overtime.
“For us to not have (Kyrie) all year, that’s impossible to cover up, even by committee,” Kidd emphasized. “Just because of the things he can do at the highest level. For him to be healthy next year, and you talk about offense, hopefully that puts us in a better seat.”
The Mavericks are aiming to acquire a foundational player in this year’s draft. They face immense pressure to be as competitive as possible next season, given they owe their first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets from the 2024 P.J. Washington trade.
For any realistic hope of reaching the playoffs, the Mavericks critically depend on Irving’s offensive output. He will be entering his 15th NBA season, while Kidd will begin his sixth season as the Mavericks’ head coach.
“I’ve known (Kyrie) for some time,” Kidd reflected. “For us to share this day is pretty cool. To see his growth on and off the floor, it’s special. It means a lot to me. I told him we missed him a lot this year on the floor.”