Ever since Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline of the 2023 season, he has been beloved by the city of Dallas and the entire organization.
Even though Irving's on-court fit didn't pan out as quickly as expected, as the Mavs shockingly missed the playoffs in his first season with the team, Nico Harrison and the organization showed their trust in him by signing him to a three-year contract to remain Luka Doncic's co-star that summer. This was a move that some people at the time questioned, as they weren't sure that he and Doncic could coexist to lead a contending team in a loaded Western Conference, but they silenced that narrative in his first season with the team.
Irving and Doncic led the Mavs to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011 in 2024 while morphing into one of the best duos in the league, and Harrison's bold bet on Irving worked out beautifully. Harrison put his full trust in Irving by trading for him despite all of the negative noise that had come his way before joining the Mavericks, and Irving silenced the narrative that he was a bad teammate or a locker room problem from his days with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics with a spectacular couple of seasons on and off the floor in Dallas.
Even Irving himself would say that he has matured in countless ways since joining the Mavericks, and his latest gesture to the entire Mavericks staff shows the exact type of person he is, even when no one is watching. Irving has grown into a gifted leader, and anyone who is around the organization on a daily basis would tell you the exact same thing.
Irving shows love to Mavericks staff as pivotal offseason looms
For the Mavericks' Employee Celebration Day earlier this week, Irving gifted Mavericks staffers a pair of his ANTA KAI 1 SPEEDs in the "Bag Work" colorway, a shoe that takes him back to the days in which he worked on his craft by dribbling a basketball inside of a plastic bag.
This kind move from Irving illustrates how much he cares for those around him while also giving back to staff members across the entire organization after a year of ups and downs and twists and turns that included the Mavs missing the playoffs for the second time in three years. By no means did Irving have to do this, and he continues to exemplify why he has become so beloved within the organization.
"He gets us right, man," a Mavs staffer said about Irving. "Kai has definitely been the glue for us this season despite the craziness. He's been holding us together."
This decision from Irving to give Mavs staff members shoes also happened right before a crucial summer for him, as he has a player option and could become an unrestricted free agent if he decides to opt out, and this gesture from Irving could be a great indicator that he'll be returning to the Mavericks this summer on a new deal if everything goes according to plan.
It's no secret that Harrison admires Irving as a person and a player, and all signs are pointing to him returning to the Mavericks on a three-year deal this summer. Irving seems to have enjoyed his time in Dallas so far on and off the court, and heading into this summer, it seems like both sides want to keep this partnership going into the future.
Harrison traded for Anthony Davis specifically to pair him with Irving, and everything Harrison has said recently has indicated that he expects Irving to be back next season, regardless of whether he opts out or into his player option.
Losing Irving in free agency after trading away Doncic just a few months before would be another blow that Mavericks fans would have trouble stomaching, but as things stand now, this doesn't look like much of a possibility.
From Irving gifting shoes to Mavericks staff members multiple weeks after their season ended to Harrison speaking glowingly of Irving anytime he gets the chance, it sounds like Irving is here in Dallas to stay.
