Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, at 34 years old, just dropped some serious truth bombs about his future in the league, flat out saying he doesn’t see himself playing into his 40s. This isn’t just talk, either. He’s talking about the NBA being a completely different animal than the one he fell in love with as a kid, and it sounds like he’s ready to walk away sooner rather than later.
The Game’s Changed, And Not For The Better
Look, “basketball is an eternal flame,” according to Irving, per Christian Clark of The Athletic. But the grind of the NBA schedule, all that weight lifting, the unseen hours, the media prep, constantly being ready to play at a high level? That’s one thing. Then you toss in social media and gambling “running rampant” in the league right now, and for Irving, it’s just not the same game anymore. He went on to describe playing in the NBA as having become “less human” and “more robotic” since he first came in as the No. 1 overall pick back in the 2011 draft. You hear that, and you gotta wonder just how much longer he’s willing to put up with it all.
More Man Than Basketball Player
Irving isn’t holding back. He flatly stated, “I don’t see myself playing in the NBA at 42, 43.” He gave a shoutout to the “head honcho” who is still going strong, likely a nod to LeBron James, who’s now on the Philadelphia 76ers and playing in his age-42 season. Irving and James famously won a championship together on the Cavaliers. He even mentioned Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, James Harden, and Kevin Durant, guys he used to look at as “big brothers.” But at 34, nearly 35, he’s clear: “I love my manhood and growing as a man more than growing as a basketball player.” This isn’t some slight against the league, it’s a priority shift, and you have to respect it. This is a guy who missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a torn ACL that cut his previous season short at 50 games. He hasn’t even hit the 70-game mark in a season since 2016-17. Despite all that, the dude’s resume is ridiculous, with a championship, Rookie of the Year, three All-NBA selections, and nine All-Star nods. He’s absolutely one of the best guards of his generation, no doubt about it.
So, what does this mean for us, the fans? The Mavericks kick off their season this Wednesday against the Houston Rockets. If Kyrie’s already talking like this, saying he’s thinking about retirement, you might want to make sure you catch him in person this season. You never know how many more chances you’ll get to see this legend on the court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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