Dallas Mavericks Media day is here and with it, we already have our first bit of news. Speaking to reporters, head coach Jason Kidd told the room:
“Now you know I don’t do well with medical. I’m not a doctor, but when we do see Kai shooting, can just refrain from saying “ahead of schedule?” That’s bad reporting…He is doing quite well, as we can see, but he’s not ahead of schedule. Let’s not say that. That’s unfair to him & to the Mavs because it’s not true. Now is he on schedule? It looks like it.
A lot of positive things are happening, but to say that he’s ahead of schedule is not fair.”
Now, who is responsible for the “bad reporting” Jason Kidd mentions? Why, it’s none other than Dallas Mavericks General Manager and media savant Nico Harrison! In July during Summer League he said this on live television:
Well, well, well, if it isn’t the consequences of Harrison’s own actions. It’s absolutely wild how often this happens to someone who’s reportedly locked into the Mamba Mentality at all times.
Of course, Jason Kidd’s broader point is well taken. ACL injuries are serious knee injuries and the recent recovery times of some athletes have been quite remarkable. But Irving is an older player, and one whose brilliance comes in no small part from his shiftiness and quickness. For those elements to be useful on the basketball court, he has to trust his body. That is going to take as long as it takes. As of right now, it’s been just over six months since his surgery. It’s nice to see him shooting in videos, and hopefully we’ll see more as the days and weeks roll by. But for now, it’s best to take Irving at his very own words.
“I’m right on schedule,” he told the media gathered today. No one knows what that schedule is right now and that might be just fine. “I’m going to be ready when I’m ready,” he told a very recent Twitch stream. A healthy, fully functioning Kyrie Irving is important to the Dallas Mavericks as they move forward. That may require patience from everyone.
