Is Kyrie Irving playing tonight against the San Antonio Spurs? Latest injury update from Dallas Mavericks (Oct. 25)

The Dallas Mavericks open their 2023-24 season against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

At the time of writing, Kyrie Irving is not on the injury report and is expected to play the Spurs. Irving signed a three-year deal with the Mavericks this summer worth $120 million; the final year is a player option.

Irving joined the Mavericks around the 2023 February trade deadline. He participated in 20 regular-season games for the franchise. Irving averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists during his short spell alongside Luka Doncic.

Irving joined from the Brooklyn Nets, where he struggled to settle. The superstar guard will be hoping for a smoother ride in Dallas, where his basketball ability could see him become a fan favorite.

However, he will need to ensure his availability. Irving has played 163 regular-season games over the last four years, meaning he has sat out more than 50% of the time.

Dallas hopes that Irving and Luka Doncic can develop an on-court chemistry that sees them evolve into one of the best star duos in the NBA.

Both must sacrifice some on-ball responsibilities to get the best out of each other. Irving's incredible dribbling skill and shot-making ability are expected to create space on the perimeter for Doncic to get easier lanes to the basket or less contested shots from the deep.

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Stephen A. Smith questions the pairing of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic for the Dallas Mavericks

Offensively, the tandem of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be devastating.

The Dallas Mavericks have some legitimate scoring ability with their two stars. However, ESPN anchor Stephen A. Smith has concerns over their ability to lock in on the defensive end.

"Dallas... I don't even know if they make the playoffs with Kyrie and Luka," Smith said on a recent episode of the "Stephen A. Smith Show." [3:34] "Offensively, nobody can stop them, defensively, who they gonna stop? I don't know if they gonna make the playoffs."

Jason Kidd will need to get creative with his defensive schemes. Neither Irving nor Doncic are known for their lock-down defensive upside.

The Mavericks also have some questionable defenders throughout their roster. Sharpshooters like Tim Hardaway Jr. also have a difficult time guarding opponents, while big man Dwight Powell isn't known for his elite rim protection.

Nevertheless, Irving and Doncic are superstar offensive talents. They will ensure that the Dallas Mavericks remain competitive throughout the upcoming season.

The Dallas Mavericks may not be a championship roster, but they will be a strong Western Conference team.