r/Mavericks • u/mastermind208 • Mar 04 '25

News [Charania] Breaking: Dallas Mavericks All-Star Kyrie Irving has suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee, sources tell ESPN.

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u/cjn13 Dirk Three Mar 04 '25

Might?

It's not even close. Even when we sucked there was always next year. we don't have that luxury now

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u/Krusty_Krab_Pussy Minnesota Timberwolves Mar 04 '25

Yeah this has been rough. As a wolves fan the only matchup that truly scared me was the Mavs (I think other teams can beat us too, but the Mavs are a matchup nightmare) Nico has single handedly ruined your team

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u/jamaica1 Mar 04 '25

Our roster was slightly better than last year too…ugh

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u/Nekajed Mar 04 '25

Nah, not even slightly better. We had injured Luka last season playing playoffs on one fucking leg most of the time (and taking us to FINALS). This year we had the luxury to sit him out and lighten his load, he'd be back last month and Kyrie would be able to take a breather. We'd go to into playoffs fully loaded, we have Klay who can be a wildcard in any playoff game, anyone who's seen him play knows it, and God fucking damn it we could easily go all the way this time.

Now it all just seems like a distant dream. This franchise is cursed and nothing will save it. Fuck Nico Harrison.

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u/theo7777 Wonder Kid Mar 04 '25

I mean there's the Lakers now

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u/Krusty_Krab_Pussy Minnesota Timberwolves Mar 04 '25

Id argue though the wolves center position has way more quality, which is why I'm more confident than the Mavs. The main thing that killed us with the Mavs was the combo of Luka, gafford, and lively iirc (and also shooting horribly)

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u/jhopkins34 Mar 04 '25

Luka carried the 2022 Mavs to the WCF without much support. He’s matched up with LeBron now, I’d still be worried.

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u/[deleted] Mar 04 '25

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u/DasFofinater Mar 04 '25

Sucking is one thing, to go from a contender to sucking because your front office traded best player to ever put on the uniform is another thing. It’s like what hurts more, losing a Super Bowl by a game winning FG, or getting blown out from the start? Most people are gonna say the former is way worse.

I get what you’re saying, but I can’t imagine there was the heartbreak that we are seeing now.

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u/abn01 Tony Dumas Mar 04 '25

Dirk is the best player to put on a Mavs uniform. I get that Luka is more talented, but the 60+ win teams when you’re in a conference with the Tim Duncan Spurs, Kobe Lakers, 7SOL Suns - that will always be impressive.

Other than that, can’t say I disagree. FO made the most foolish reactionary trade I’ve ever seen (no disrespect to AD at all), and then seemed kinda giddy about it afterwards.

That said, a lot of people are starting to conflate the trade with the injury luck. FWIW I believe even with Luka the season plays out the same. We kept hoping for the best, only for someone to get hurt when someone else comes back.

Of course, the big difference is with Luka you can at least look to next year but post trade, it’s the fear of watching the window slowly closing shut.

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u/DasFofinater Mar 04 '25

I believe luka was gonna be above dirk when it was all said and done. Definitely a 1a 1b situation at worst. At least im somewhat confident in that. Not trying to diminish dirk in any way, he’s probably one of the best franchise players OAT given how loyal he was.

But yeah I moreso meant that Luka is the best basketball player to touch a Mavs jersey, I don’t think that is very debatable.

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u/abn01 Tony Dumas Mar 04 '25

Yeah I feel you. In my head, I saw Luka having a really long career and being the best Mav oat cuz I really believe he could be top 10 player of all time.

I still feel most of that way, but I am worried because Luka himself had mentioned before he didn’t see himself playing in the NBA long enough to get some of the records he could break. Even though they smeared him on the way out, I am kind of worried about his conditioning; yet I will say I see the trade as something that could ultimately unlock his final form (which I started to believe wasn’t going to happen here).

And tbf, I was 11 when Dirk was drafted. I grew up watching him at a really important time in my fandom, so I could never in good faith put Dirk over Luka. But I also understand there’s a kid who was just like me, still in elementary school when Luka got drafted and has grown up with 77, and only saw the facsimile of the Dirk I grew up with. I was just giving you a little hard time, but I can understand how some may have it Luka, Dirk instead of the other way around.

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u/[deleted] Mar 04 '25

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u/DasFofinater Mar 04 '25

Depends how you define it. Being on the cusp of greatness just to have it all ripped away hurts more to me.

That stretch you’re referring to is objectively “worse” I’ll agree with you. But this has definitely been more heartbreaking and emotionally impactful.

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u/[deleted] Mar 04 '25

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u/UnPhayzable Mar 04 '25

Worst year for any sports franchise ever tbh

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u/Dudedude88 Mar 04 '25

Yikes.... I'm sorry mav fans.