Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving suffered a torn left ACL in the first quarter of their game against the Sacramento Kings on Monday. Irving could barely put weight on his injured knee, but still managed to sink two free throws before bowing out of the game and ending his season.
The moment resembled that of Irving’s idol, the late great Kobe Bryant, who also shot two free throws after suffering an Achilles injury in a game during the 2012-13 season. The Mavericks guard talked about the significance of his Kobe-like moment in an Instagram Live on Tuesday.
“I think that the greatest gift that I got, that I gave to myself, was going to that free throw line and hitting both free throws,” said Irving. “If I didn’t make those free throws—and if you know, you know—I woulda been pissed all year, you guys have no idea.”
Kyrie Irving on staying into the game after tearing his ACL and drilling both free throws:
“I think that the greatest gift that I got, that I gave to myself, was going to that free throw line and hitting both free throws…If I didn’t make those free throws, I woulda been pissed… pic.twitter.com/gCyeXEZEyh
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) March 4, 2025
Irving suffered the injury while driving to the basket with 2:37 left in the first quarter. He hyperextended his left knee on his way to the rim when his right foot landed on Jonas Valanciunas’ foot. He lay down on the baseline for some time before asking to be assisted to the free throw line. Anthony Davis and a Mavericks staffer helped him to the charity stripe for his two shots, which he both sank.
His current teammate Klay Thompson also did the same thing during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. Despite tearing his ACL, he still checked in and managed to sink two free throws before leaving the game.
Kyrie Irving’s former teammates show their support following his ACL injury
Following his season-ending knee injury, two of Kyrie Irving’s former teammates sent messages to show their support for the Dallas Mavericks star: LeBron James and Luka Doncic, who now both play for the LA Lakers.
James, who teamed with Irving in Cleveland and won the 2016 NBA title, had a spiritually laced message on X. “Prayers sent up to Ky,” the four-time NBA champion said.
Prayers sent up to Ky 🧙🏾🤞🏾!!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 4, 2025
Meanwhile, Doncic, who previously teamed with Irving in Dallas, posted his well wishes for his former teammate on his Instagram story. “You will come back stronger, mi hermano!” Doncic said.
Luka on IG
“You will come back stronger mi hermano!❤️”
📸Luka IG pic.twitter.com/xE6BqS77qC
— Mavs Film Room 🐴🎥 (@MavsFilmRoom) March 4, 2025
Doncic left Irving and joined James in Los Angeles as a result of a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas the week of the trade deadline.
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