Nightmare: AD Out for the Season—Do the Mavericks Have a Future?

The worst-case scenario has officially unfolded for the Dallas Mavericks.

Late last night, Shams Charania broke the devastating news—Kyrie Irving has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season.

For Mavs fans, this is a gut punch of the highest order.

Just weeks ago, this team was still clinging to playoff hopes. Now? Those dreams have been crushed.

And the bad news doesn’t stop there.

Shortly after Irving’s injury, rumors surfaced that Anthony Davis may also be done for the year.

According to Shams, Davis and his camp are now seriously considering shutting him down for the rest of the season.

The dominoes are falling fast, and the Mavs' entire future hangs in the balance.

The Kyrie Injury: A Devastating Blow

Let’s start with the biggest heartbreak of them all—Kyrie.

The moment Irving decided to step to the free-throw line after the injury, it was clear he already knew what had happened.

A torn ACL is one of the worst injuries a basketball player can suffer.

• It comes with excruciating pain.
• It immobilizes the leg almost immediately.
• It requires a long, grueling rehab process.

For younger players, bouncing back is tough.

For older veterans like Kyrie—who already has a history of knee injuries?

It’s career-altering.

Jamal Murray, an elite scoring guard, tore his ACL at 24. He missed 18 months and still hasn’t fully regained his athleticism.

Kyrie turns 33 in less than a month.

By the time he returns, he’ll be nearly 34—an age where explosive guards start to decline even without major injuries.

The reality is brutal:

• Best-case scenario: Kyrie rehabs for 9-12 months and returns sometime next season.
• Worst-case scenario: He never regains his quickness, and his days as an elite offensive force are over.

And here’s another massive issue: his contract.

• Kyrie has a $42.96 million player option for next season.
• Before the injury, he was expected to decline it and sign a long-term max deal—potentially four years, $240 million.
• Now? That’s off the table.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban wouldn’t even give Luka Dončić a supermax deal before trading him.

There’s zero chance they commit that kind of money to an injured Kyrie Irving.

Which means one thing: Kyrie is likely picking up his player option and staying put.

But what will he look like when he returns?

And more importantly—what kind of team will he be coming back to?

Anthony Davis: Another Season Lost?

If Kyrie’s injury wasn’t bad enough, the Anthony Davis situation just poured gasoline on the fire.

According to Shams, Davis might not play another game this season.

The official reason? A lingering groin strain.

The real reason? The Mavericks’ season is falling apart, and there’s no reason for AD to risk further injury.

Think about it.

• Davis debuted for the Mavericks and then immediately sat out with a groin issue.
• The original timeline suggested he could return by the end of the regular season.
• But now? With Kyrie gone, the Mavs' playoff odds plummeting, and other injuries piling up—what’s the point of bringing him back?

This isn’t about effort or toughness.

• Groin injuries are tricky—even LeBron James struggled with recurring groin problems after his 2018 injury.
• If AD pushes too hard, he risks aggravating it further and hurting his long-term future.

And let’s be honest—does this team even have a shot in the playoffs?

Before Kyrie’s injury: The Mavericks had a 52% chance of making the playoffs.

After Kyrie’s injury: That number dropped to just 7%.

That’s not a typo.

And it gets worse.

• Before the Luka trade, the Mavericks had a 70% playoff chance.
• Now? They’re barely clinging to life.

If Davis does shut it down, the Mavs are officially waving the white flag on the season.

A Month of Absolute Disaster

It’s hard to believe that just 10 months ago, this team was in the NBA Finals.

Now, the Mavs’ last month has been an absolute catastrophe.

• Luka Dončić was traded to the Lakers.
• Dereck Lively suffered a severe ankle injury.
• Anthony Davis went down with a groin strain.
• Daniel Gafford tore his MCL and will miss at least six weeks.
• Kyrie tore his ACL—season over.
• P.J. Washington has missed seven of the last 12 games with an ankle injury.
• Jaden Hardy sprained his ankle and is out indefinitely.

And if that wasn’t bad enough:

• Quentin Grimes (traded away) just dropped 44 points for the Sixers.
• Kenyon Martin Jr. (who they got in return) hasn’t played a single game for Dallas.
• The Mavericks just announced an 8% price increase for next season’s season tickets.

Yes, you read that right.

A team that just lost its best players, saw its season implode, and has an uncertain future is raising ticket prices.

What is this front office thinking?

What Happens Next?

This is where things get scary for Dallas.

This isn’t just about this season.

This is about the long-term future of the franchise.

• Luka is gone.
• Kyrie is hurt.
• AD may never play for them again.
• Their supporting cast is decimated.

The window is closing fast, and unless they make some drastic changes, they could be heading straight for a full-scale rebuild.

Can Kyrie ever return to All-Star form?

Will Anthony Davis ever suit up for this team again?

Is there any hope left for the Mavericks?

Right now, the answers aren’t looking good.