The Dallas Mavericks are apparently trying to do right by Kyrie Irving as he recovers from his ACL tear.
Details have emerged this week on the new three-year contract extension that Irving recently agreed to with the Mavs. The extension officially totals $118.5 million over the three years and includes a player option for Year 3 plus a 15 percent trade kicker, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported on Tuesday.
While those provisions are generally common, there is one provision in Irving’s new contract that is less common. Stein adds that Irving’s extension includes an advance payment provision for half of each season’s salary by Oct. 1.
The 33-year-old Irving, who tore his ACL in March, might not play at all next season. He even hinted as much in a recent Q&A with fans on a video game stream.
But under the advance payment provision, Irving, who is owed $36.6 million next season will earn roughly $18.3 million by Oct. 1 of this year (before the new season starts). He will also make about $19.75 million of the $39.5 million he is owed in 2026-27 by Oct. 1, 2026. That means that Irving may just have $56.3 million from the Mavs drop in his bank account before he even plays in another game for them.
Contract negotiations between Irving and the Mavs got a little bit dicey, and the nine-time All-Star ended up settling for less than he was hoping for per year. But the advance payment provision for Irving marks a notable concession from the Mavs that may have helped the deal get over the finish line in the end.
