According to ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday, Kyrie Irving decided to give up his $43 million player option for the 2025/26 season. He will sign a three-year, $119 million contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks, which includes a player option for the 2027/28 season.

Kyrie Irving entered the NBA in 2011 and has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets. He won the 2016 NBA championship with the Cavaliers and was selected to the All-Star team nine times.

In February 2023, Irving was traded to the Mavericks by the Brooklyn Nets. To date, he has played 120 regular season games for the Mavericks, averaging 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 48.9% and a three-point shooting percentage of 40.4%. However, Irving has been out for the season ahead of schedule since he tore the cruciate ligament of his left knee in March this year, and is expected to return in January 2026.

ESPN salary expert Bobby Marks pointed out that Irving's contract extension will free up a $5.7 million luxury tax mid-level exception for the Mavericks, which will help the team strengthen its lineup during the offseason. ESPN then quoted sources as saying that the Mavericks may use the salary space freed up by Irving to pursue mid-level players such as Dennis Schroder, D'Angelo Russell, Chris Paul, and Malcolm Brogdon.

During the negotiations on player options and contract extensions, Irving and the Mavericks both clearly expressed their willingness to work together for a long time. The Mavericks management highly praised Irving's leadership and looked forward to him, under the leadership of head coach Jason Kidd and general manager Nico Harrison, working with Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg and others to push the team back to the championship.