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The Dallas Mavericks are doubling down on Kyrie Irving, and Kendrick Perkins believes it’s paying off in more ways than one.
Irving, who is currently rehabbing from an ACL tear, signed a three-year, $118 million extension with Dallas this summer.
For the former champion, the move cements a bond that he hasn’t felt anywhere else in his career.
Perkins praised both Irving and the Mavericks front office for making it work.
“I applaud him because the one thing about Kyrie is that he’s done it his way,” Perkins said on ESPN. “You know who else I applaud? The Dallas Mavericks, the reason being is because relationships matter like Nico and Kyrie. One could argue, this is no knock on Cleveland. This is no knock on Boston or Brooklyn. One could say this is the happiest that Kyrie Irving has ever been in his career.”
It’s a bold claim, but Irving himself has echoed the same feeling. After joining Dallas in 2023, he explained how the city embraced him beyond the court.
“I have my own beliefs and views,” Irving said in 2024. “I think, here in Dallas, I have been accepted way beyond just my talent on the court. I think it is for what I represent in the broader world.”
That acceptance is rooted in his long-standing relationship with Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, going back to their Nike days. For a player who has battled controversy in Boston and Brooklyn, the connection has been vital.
Irving also proved his worth last postseason, helping lead Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals. His leadership and shot-making in big moments silenced doubts about whether he could still be the second star on a contending team.
With Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and rookie phenom Cooper Flagg now alongside him, the Mavericks are betting on Irving to help guide them back.
READ MORE: Is Andrew Wiggins Back on the Lakers’ Radar?
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