Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is in the midst of his most-complete season since he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2016-17.
Irving entered Wednesday’s outing against the Miami Heat having helped Dallas to a 49-30 record and to the fifth spot in the Western Conference.
When the NBA champion has actually suited up with likely MVP Luka Doncic, the Mavericks have looked every bit the part of a title contender.
That was the case once again with Irving and Co. defeating Miami by the score of 111-92. The enigmatic figure dropped 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point range as Dallas earned its 50th win of the season.
- Kyrie Irving stats (2023-24): 25.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 50% shooting, 41% 3-point
This allowed Irving to cash in big time. He earned a $1 million bonus in his contract by Dallas winning 50 games in a season. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban even had jokes after the game, asking Irving “Kyrie, what bonus?”
Irving, 32, is playing under a three-year, $126 million contract he signed with the Mavericks last summer. That came after he was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets during the 2022-23 season in a blockbuster trade.
The money aside, this must feel pretty good for the former No. 1 overall pick. Irving has been at the center of some major drama in recent years.
That includes a rift with King James ending his Cavaliers career following the 2016-17 season. Irving’s two-year run with the Boston Celtics didn’t end well, either. Meanwhile, he demanded a trade from the Nets during the 2022-23 campaign due to a disconnct between the eight-time All-Star and the organization.