Jason Kidd Fires Back at Claims That Kyrie Irving's Workload Caused ACL Injury
The Dallas Mavericks’ season has been nothing short of a disaster, and Kyrie Irving’s season-ending ACL injury just added another painful chapter. But what’s making headlines right now isn’t just the injury itself—it’s the debate over whether the Mavericks’ coaching decisions played a role in it. And head coach Jason Kidd isn’t having any of it.
Let’s set the stage: Over the last six weeks, Irving led the NBA in minutes per game, logging an exhausting 38.7 per night. After Luka Dončić was traded, he became the team’s go-to offensive leader, often playing over 40 minutes a game. So naturally, when he went down with an ACL tear, many pointed fingers at the heavy workload. But Kidd is shutting down that narrative, calling it nothing more than a “freak accident.”
Also Read:- DWP's New Crackdown: Bank Account Checks and £300 Fines for Benefit Fraud
- Penguins Shake Things Up with Trade for Luke Schenn and Tommy Novak
In his pregame press conference before the Mavericks’ 137-107 blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Kidd wasn’t shy about his frustration with the speculation. "He invited that. He wanted that," Kidd insisted. "But are we reporting that? No. We’re reporting that we’re running someone into the ground. That’s not true. That’s his job, to play. And he loves to play."
Kidd emphasized that playing 40 minutes a game for a short stretch isn’t unheard of—especially for a 32-year-old star like Irving. He also pushed back against the idea that load management should dominate the conversation. "This isn’t the whole season," he said. "We should be promoting our athletes to play more minutes and more games, but are we? Probably not."
Irving’s injury happened early in the game against the Sacramento Kings. He drove through the lane, landed awkwardly, and immediately clutched his knee. Just like that, his season was over. For Mavericks fans, this was yet another crushing blow in a season that’s gone completely off the rails.
Dallas, which already lost Anthony Davis to injury and nearly their entire big-man rotation, is now sitting at 10th place in the Western Conference. And without Irving, their playoff hopes are barely hanging by a thread. Even if Davis returns, the question remains: Is there anything left to fight for?
The Mavericks' situation has been a perfect storm of bad luck, questionable decisions, and just plain unfortunate timing. But one thing’s for sure—Kidd is standing by his belief that Irving’s injury had nothing to do with overuse. Whether fans and analysts buy that is another story.
Read More:
0 Comments