Cuban reveals Irving’s influence on Mavs roster: “Everybody called him a cancer”
Dallas Mavericks majority shareholder Mark Cuban has commented on the supposed influence Kyrie Irving had when he played for the team.
Dallas Mavericks majority shareholder Mark Cuban has spoken out against the false perception regarding Kyrie Irving, saying that the reputation that he had within the NBA does not fit with how the player really is.
Speaking on ‘The Arena’ podcast, the 67-year-old touched on topics such as Luka Doncic’s departure, why Steve Nash left, and Irving behind the scenes.
“Everybody called him a cancer,” Cuban recalled, “everywhere he went, they were ready to get rid of him, but every player I talked to loved him.”
“With Kyrie, people were hugging him like he was a cousin”
“I would start watching his old games,” he continued, his smile widening his face at the thought of Irving, “after every game, guys dap up and trade jerseys. With Kyrie, people were hugging him like he was a cousin they hadn’t seen in forever, right? They just loved the guy. And everyone I talked to said the same thing.”
“He was a fallen angel, we’re gonna pull the trigger and give him a lot of attention and talk to him. It paid off, I have a great relationship with him.”
The player has been injured since March with an ACL tear, yet the signs of recovery are positive. Irving was recently seen on the court — albeit carrying out non-contact shooting and finishing drills — which has fans hoping that he will continue in this vein ahead of the upcoming season.
THE RETURN: Kyrie Irving, 5 months after tearing his ACL, showed off his movement with the ball, floater, & jump shots while training in New York City.
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) August 31, 2025
Will Kyrie be back for Dallas late in the season in 2025-26? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ihNHIPHAhM
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In the 2024–25 season, he averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game as the team posted a 28-22 record with him and a 11-21 record without him.
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