Dallas Mavs' Kyrie Irving Plays Most Consecutive Games Since 2016

Mavs superstar Kyrie Irving has played 23 consecutive games since returning from a right thumb sprain on February 5.

Mar 26, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles the / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

SACRAMENTO — The Dallas Mavericks dealt with numerous lengthy injuries to key players throughout the 2023-24 season. Before returning from a right thumb sprain, Kyrie Irving missed 22 of the Mavs' first 49 games, and the team logged only 22 games with Irving and Luka Doncic in the lineup and at that point, it was less than half of the team's games played.

With Irving playing 23 consecutive games since his February 5 return to the lineup and Doncic only being sidelined once during this period, the Mavs are benefiting significantly. Dallas has gone 17-6 during this span.

Mar 26, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles the / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Irving's streak of games played is the longest he's had since 2016, and he set a single-season career-high in dunks (five) after finishing his latest against the Sacramento Kings during Tuesday's blowout victory. He attributes these results to the late-night hours he's been putting in to prevent injuries the best he reasonably can.

"I think just putting in those late-night hours and getting as healthy as I can and getting better in the season," Irving said. "That's always the goal."

With the tools of modern sports performance, Irving believes players have enough resources in the modern era to work on their bodies to maximize their athletic burst and durability.

"I know some of my peers or some of the past players have talked about how difficult it can be to get better during the season, but I think it's possible because of technology, the way we have recovery tools and resources," Irving said. "Again, it just goes back to the work that no one sees, so I'm grateful I could get on that rim a little bit and break a career-high."

When Irving, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on March 23, recorded his third dunk of the season in a recent road game against the San Antonio Spurs, he referenced the movie Benjamin Button, joking that perhaps he's getting more athletic in his 30s.

“Am I at a career high this year? I think I have three dunks — I’m three dunks in — I think that’s my career-high at this point,” Irving said. “Did you watch the movie Benjamin Button? What if I’m getting more athletic in my 30s? That would be a heck of a thing, wouldn’t it?”

Whether he's dunking the ball or not, the Mavs need Irving and the rest of their roster to stay healthy as much as possible as they compete to hold onto a top six spot in the Western Conference to avoid the play-in tournament.

Irving averaged 25.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 50 games this season. He's coming off a performance against the Sacramento Kings, scoring 24 points and dishing out eight assists, helping guide the Mavs to a pivotal 132-96 victory, pushing Dallas to the sixth seed ahead of Friday's rematch.