Kyrie Irving was enjoying a productive 2024-25 season with the Dallas Mavericks when disaster struck on March 3 during a game against the Sacramento Kings. Irving tore his ACL that night and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the season.
The injury was a massive blow to Irving and the Mavericks. The nine-time All-Star averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks per game before going down, and his absence was sorely felt.
The Mavericks, the defending Western Conference champions, would finish the regular season 10th in the standings with a 39-43 record. They would lose to the Memphis Grizzlies in their second game in the play-in tournament and miss out on a spot in the playoffs.
While many in Irving's shoes might be feeling miserable about the current situation, he isn't letting himself get too down. With June being Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, he decided to send a strong message to his fans during his Twitch stream.
“I’m watching the Finals, recovering from my ACL injury — I could be bogged down or depressed," Irving said on his stream, via Legion Hoops. "But I’m sharing this unfiltered because you deserve it. I let people spin narratives, get into my head, violate my spiritual boundaries. That led to a spiral of emotions. I know what it feels like to lose it all or not want to be on Earth anymore. So please — don’t stay quiet, don’t retreat. I care. Reach out to your loved ones.”
While Irving is a beloved figure now, it is easy to forget that things were very different a few years ago. He caused an uproar by refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine and also shared a link to a movie that has been deemed antisemitic. The latter act contributed to Nike ending their partnership with Irving.
Those were some difficult times, but Irving has now turned over a new leaf. He has been a model citizen ever since he came to Dallas in 2023 and has spoken openly about the subject of mental health as well.
