The Dallas Mavericks have been outwardly optimistic about the potential for Kyrie Irving to return to action on the early side of the typical recovery timeline that comes with an ACL tear. The veteran point guard,

Point guard Kyrie Irving offered a response rooted in patience to a question about whether he would return from his ACL tear in time for the playoffs.

It isn't Irving's first time battling through a lengthy recovery process. Earlier in his career he fractured his kneecap while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals and he didn't return until December of the following season.