The Dallas Mavericks fan base isn’t feeling too well these days.
They’ve lost Luka Doncic for good, possibly. They’ve lost Anthony Davis for up to a month. At this point, they might just lose their minds.
Mavs’ Kyrie Irving Lands All-Star Selection Amid Anthony Davis Injury
If it’s any consolation, the Mavs still have an All-Star. With Davis now ruled out for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has selected Kyrie Irving to replace him. This marks Irving’s ninth All-Star selection, the most in the 2011 NBA Draft class. In fact, no other member of the 2011 NBA Draft class has more than six All-Star selections. In 2014, Irving was named the All-Star Game MVP.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Mavericks forward-center Anthony Davis on Team Shaq in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.
This is the ninth NBA All-Star selection for Irving, who is averaging 24.1 points, 4.6… pic.twitter.com/LQ6Mmd1Np9
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 10, 2025
Notably, Silver bases his injury replacement picks on the player who has the next most votes among coaches. Earlier on Monday, that same process led to Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young being named as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s replacement. Irving will play for Team Shaq (selected by Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal) while Young will play for Team Chuck (selected by Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley).
This season, the former No. 1 pick is averaging 24.1 points, 4.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game on .475-.407-.901 shooting splits. One of the most cunning players in the league, his scoring average ranks 16th among all players in 2024-25. In an event where the defense has been criticized, Irving may not be the player to look to. However, the showmanship and competitiveness that he’s put on display throughout his career will help electrify the atmosphere.
All-Star Games?
Interestingly, Team Shaq is littered with older American stars. A relatively young American player in Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (26) is on O’Neal’s roster as well. Nonetheless, Irving’s age (32) is in line with the thinking of those who see the All-Star Teams as separated by age and nationality.
Then there’s Team Chuck, which largely features international players. Even Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (Panamanian) and New York Knicks forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican) are of mixed descent. With that being said, if the plan was to pit different demographics against each other, Young might junk that plan up a little bit. He’s an American, through and through.
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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