Kyrie Irving-Rockets, Mitchell: “They’d be the best”
The Rockets have started strong, but Sam Mitchell thinks they’re still missing something. That something, he believes, is Kyrie Irving
The Houston Rockets have started the season on the right foot and, with Alperen Sengun in excellent form, appear to have everything they need to make noise in the West. But Sam Mitchell believes one player could take them to another level: Kyrie Irving.
The former NBA coach discussed the idea on SiriusXM NBA Radio, focusing on the Dallas Mavericks point guard’s return after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL.
So far, that return appears to have erased any doubts about his health.
Kyrie is making everyone around him better. Nobody knew how he’d come back. To me, he looks even better than before the injury
Sam Mitchell
Houston got a firsthand look. In Dallas’ 116-111 victory, Irving finished with 35 points, 9 assists and 12-for-19 shooting, leading the Mavericks to the win and handing the Rockets their first loss after five consecutive victories to open the season.
Sam Mitchell: “With Kyrie, the Rockets would be the best”
That performance only strengthened Mitchell’s belief that Irving would be the ideal player to turn Houston into a serious NBA title favorite.
You could get two first-round picks for Kyrie right now. Put him on the Rockets, with all the injuries elsewhere in the conference… with him, they’d clearly be the best team
Sam Mitchell
After a year away from the court, Irving is making a difference again, and his name is already back in trade discussions. Houston would be an intriguing destination, but Dallas doesn’t appear to have much reason to part with him, at least for now.