Jason Kidd, coach of the Dallas Mavericks, firmly rejected any connection between Kyrie Irving's heavy minutes and his recent ACL tear, labeling the incident a "freak accident." Irving sustained the injury during a game against the Sacramento Kings after stepping awkwardly on Jonas Valančiūnas' foot. Despite averaging 38.2 minutes per game since late December, Kidd emphasized that Irving welcomed the challenge and did not complain about the minutes. The Mavericks are currently struggling with injuries, having only eight available players heading into a critical matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kidd addressed criticisms surrounding player workload, particularly regarding star players, and pointed out the double standards in the league's treatment of player rest and participation. He defended Irving's performance, stating he was playing at an elite level prior to the injury. The Mavericks are currently in a precarious position, sitting at 10th in the Western Conference and struggling to maintain their playoff spot due to injuries and absences.