Dallas Mavericks fans are preparing to be without Kyrie Irving for a long time.

Recovery from a torn ACL always takes a while, no matter how hard a player fights to get healthy.

Speaking with Dallas Hoops Journal, Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said that Irving is ahead of schedule but won’t be back soon.

However, that is exactly what the Mavericks expect because they do not want him to rush.

“Kyrie’s ahead of schedule, but we kind of knew he would be because of the way he attacks his rehab,” Harrison said. “He’s going two or three times a day. As much as he wants to rush it, we don’t want him to. But he’s going to be fine.”

It would be great if Irving were ready to play at the start of 2025-26, but that won’t happen.

In fact, it’s unlikely that he will play at all in the new season.

Instead, the Mavericks are ready to not have Irving on the court for the entire campaign, and they have made their plans accordingly.

They recently signed D’Angelo Russell, who should provide a huge help in the backcourt.

And if Russell does well, he could earn a spot in the second unit when Irving is healthy and back in the game.

The Mavericks know that things will be tough without Irving, but they are still optimistic about what’s ahead.

That’s because they have Anthony Davis back, they just acquired Cooper Flagg, and the other players who faced injuries last season are looking much better.

Things are coming together for Dallas, but they won’t be at 100 percent until Irving is back.

He’s on the right track and making progress, but he won’t be suiting up for a long time.

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