Kyrie Irving Gets Praised for Taking Pay Cut While Signing $119 million Extension: “He Feels Mavs Can Beat Thunder”

Despite recovering from a torn ACL, Kyrie Irving’s new deal solidifies his long-term role in Dallas and aligns him with Anthony Davis through 2027-28.

Kyrie Irving Gets Praised for Taking Pay Cut While Signing $119 million Extension: “He Feels Mavs Can Beat Thunder”

Kyrie Irving (Image by FirstSportz)

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Kyrie Irving will sign a three-year, $119 million agreement with the Dallas Mavericks, rejecting his $42.9 million player option for the 2025–2026 campaign. A 2027–2028 player option is part of the agreement. Officially, that new agreement cannot be reached until July 6. The Mavs star has taken a pay cut to secure longer contract for his future.

This has left the Mavs’ fanbase in awe as Irving agreed to take a pay cut to stay in the franchise. It’s important to note that Irving had a torn ACL injury during the 2024-25 NBA season, which will keep him out of the start of the upcoming season. So, a three-year contract deal was the best outcome for all the parties involved.

So far, Irving has enjoyed his time at the Mavs since his arrival back in the franchise. In the 2023-24 season, the Mavs, with the help of Irving and former Maverick Luka Doncic (currently a Laker), reached the NBA Finals, something the Mavs star will look to repeat.

Now, since they will draft the No.1 pick Cooper Flagg, who has huge potential, Irving will be looking to go all the way alongside Flagg and veteran center Anthony Davis. To improve their cap situation and retain Irving for their hoped-for comeback as a contender, the Mavericks can significantly reduce his yearly compensation.

After being acquired from the Brooklyn halfway through the 2022–2023 season, Irving, 33, produced 24.7 points per game for Dallas last season, his third season in the Lone Star State. The Mavericks have extended and synchronized the contracts of their core players, including Irving, who has a deal through at least 2027–2028. Additionally, Davis has a 2027–2028 player option.

Fans surprised after coming across Kyrie Irving’s decision to take a pay cut

Just as the Dallas Mavericks are going to secure Cooper Flagg on the NBA 2025 Draft day on Wednesday, their veteran player Kyrie Irving wasted no time in pledging his loyalty to his franchise. Irving signed a team friendly contract extension, making it clear he is in Dallas for the long run. This also sends a clear message: contending for the NBA title in the coming year.

Kyrie Irving 2
Kyrie Irving (Credits: MARCA)

This left many fans surprised, as they did not expect Irving to take a pay cut in the last stages of his career. Many of them took to X to make their views clear regarding this development. One fan wrote, “Kyrie took a paycut because he feels like Mavs can beat the Thunder fully healthy.” Check out some of the reactions below:

To guarantee Irving stays with the organization through his best physical and mental years, the new contract contains a player option for the 2027–2028 campaign. This action not only demonstrates a strong dedication to the organization but also a strategic alliance focused on identity, stability, and—above all—immediate outcomes.

Kyrie Irving’s contract extension terms open up a taxpayer midlevel exception for the Mavs

Irving would have possibly gotten a huge payday if he had avoided any injury this past season, as he was consistently performing for his team. Before the injury, rival executives thought Irving, a nine-time All-Star, was due a large payout that ranged from $50 – $60 million a year.

According to insiders, the Mavs are hoping to sign Irving to this contract to activate the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception. Dennis Schroder, D’Angelo Russell, Chris Paul, and Malcolm Brogdon were possible candidates for that position.

With the unexpected blockbuster transfer of five-time All-NBA point guard Luka Doncic over to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, just months after Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals, Irving’s significance to the Mavs only grew. Now, he is the main man in Dallas as the management looks to build a solid team around him and Davis to challenge for the 2026 NBA title.

Also Read: