There could’ve been a reunion in the Dallas Mavericks if Kyrie Irving hadn’t gotten injured. The Phoenix Suns traded All-Star forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets over the summer. Durant’s former teammate, Quinn Cook, revealed that the star forward’s fate could’ve been different during the offseason. Cook said that Irving and KD could’ve been teammates again if not for the star guard’s ACL injury.
Last season, the former Duke star suffered a torn ACL injury that ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. Irving is expected to miss most of the 2025-26 season due to the setback he sustained. Durant, on the other hand, was given the option by the Suns to choose his preferred destination. Among the teams he wanted to get traded to, however, the Mavericks weren’t part.
Things could’ve been different, and a Big 3 of Durant, Irving and Anthony Davis would’ve formed. Cook told NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson that the franchise had the means to do such a deal.
“Oh yeah. 100 percent,” said Cook. “I know their relationship, you know? I know their relationship. I think Dallas had a very good chance of getting him.”
It would’ve been the second iteration of the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving pairing. The two players were co-stars with the Brooklyn Nets for three seasons. They have unfinished business together. As teammates, the farthest they’ve been to was the second round of the playoffs.
Gilbert Arenas believes Kevin Durant and other star veterans will play at the 2028 Olympics
During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA showed the other nations why they have the best basketball talent. Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Steph Curry headlined the men’s national basketball team and led them to a gold medal finish.
At that time, they were already considered some of the oldest players in the basketball world. Despite that, they did not disappoint and were important to the team’s success.
For the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, there are questions and speculations about which players will represent the country in basketball. The discussion usually leads to the potential participation of the three veteran stars.
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas predicts that Durant, James and Curry will suit up for Team USA. Especially since LA will host the event.
“Steph, KD, and Bron still gon’ be out there in their 40s winning gold in the 2028 Olympics like it’s the local U50 League 👴🏀 They gon’ be running pick-and-rolls with icy hot patches on they backs, halftime adjustments gonna be physical therapy sessions. Team USA trainers better pack more Bengay than basketballs 😂🇺🇸” Arenas posted on X.
Steph, KD, and Bron still gon’ be out there in their 40s winning gold in the 2028 Olympics like it’s the local U50 League 👴🏀 They gon’ be running pick-and-rolls with icy hot patches on they backs, halftime adjustments gonna be physical therapy sessions. Team USA trainers better… pic.twitter.com/wW5GhvYBwt
— Gilbert Arenas (@NoChillGilZero) September 30, 2025
Arenas said that the stars won’t allow Team USA to have a difficult time in the next Olympics.
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Follow me on X at @BarbecueBro, and follow us at @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Reign Amurao via email at reignamuraonba@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
