Kyrie Irving signs three-year, $119m contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks; Smith claims the player was low-balled

The Dallas Mavericks made sure to hold on to one of their star players ahead of the 2025–26 NBA season, securing superstar guard Kyrie Irving with a new three-year contract extension worth $119 million.

The news was first reported by NBA insider and ESPN’s Shams Charania, who confirmed the development in a post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

“The Dallas Mavericks’ nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving is declining his $43 million player option and intends to sign a three-year, $119 million contract with the franchise. The deal includes a player option in the 2027–28 season,” Charania wrote.

This is a major win for the Mavericks, as Irving continues to be an elite player. He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in March.

While this is good news for the franchise, the financial terms of the deal have sparked criticism from fans and analysts—most notably from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. The outspoken broadcaster slammed Mavericks management for “low-balling” Irving, arguing that a player of his caliber deserved a more lucrative deal, and claiming that this would not have happened under former owner Mark Cuban.

“I think Kyrie Irving got low-balled.”

—@stephenasmith on Kyrie Irving’s new deal with the Mavs pic.twitter.com/sMY5kvuihe

— First Take (@FirstTake) June 25, 2025

“In today’s economy, where you got cats getting paid $55–60 million-plus, you couldn’t give this guy at least $43 to $45 million a year? Remember, he was supposed to be getting a player option that would have given him $43 million. So, to me, at $119 million, that is a fraction less than $40 million per year. Kyrie Irving deserves more than that.

It has me looking at ownership because I’m saying, ‘Okay, if this were Mark Cuban, he would have had more.’ No question about it. He would have made that investment,” Smith said on First Take.

Smith’s point resonates with many fans, as Irving is arguably worth more than $40 million per year. However, it’s also important to note that he is expected to miss most of the 2025–26 NBA season due to injury—yet will still be paid under the new contract.

Irving is widely regarded as one of the best ball handlers and shooters in NBA history. The 33-year-old won the 2016 NBA Championship, was named the 2014 NBA All-Star Game MVP, the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year, and the 2013 Three-Point Contest Champion, and has been selected to nine NBA All-Star teams, among many other honors.

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