As per Crickex Sign Up confirms that Kyrie Irving is officially returning to the court after a 198-day absence. The Cleveland Cavaliers star announced his comeback with a simple but electrifying post on social media: “I’m back!” His highly anticipated season debut is set for Monday against the struggling Philadelphia 76ers, who hold a league-worst 1-27 record. Irving has missed the first 24 games of the season while recovering from the knee injury he sustained in Game 1 of last year’s NBA Finals.
Sources indicate that Irving was medically cleared last week, but Cavaliers head coach David Blatt held him out as a precaution. The Cavs have been playing it safe, prioritizing long-term goals over early-season risks. While rumors suggested Irving was frustrated by the delay, his Twitter announcement and follow-up interview—where he exclaimed, “I’m so damn excited!”—reveal just how eager he is to return. With championship aspirations in mind, the team carefully balanced his rehab with a 17-7 start that kept them atop the Eastern Conference.
Irving’s return couldn’t come at a better time. Facing the lowly 76ers provides the perfect opportunity for a warm-up game before the Cavs face the Knicks and then travel west for a marquee Christmas Day showdown against the Golden State Warriors. That highly anticipated matchup is viewed by many as a rematch of last year’s Finals. For Irving, it’s personal—and he clearly doesn’t want to miss it. Notably, Warriors forward Harrison Barnes is still questionable for that contest.
Adding urgency to Irving’s return are the Cavaliers’ recent injury woes. Backup point guard Mo Williams remains sidelined and has yet to resume full training. Iman Shumpert, who recently re-injured himself, returned to partial practice today. Blatt praised Irving’s recovery progress but emphasized the need to ease him back into game rhythm. He confirmed that Irving’s minutes will be tightly managed in his season debut to avoid unnecessary risk.
Irving, who averaged 21.7 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals over 75 games last season, has been sorely missed. His injury last June—caused by a collision during a fast break—cut short what had been one of his best campaigns. Now, as he suits up again just before Christmas, Cavaliers fans are buzzing with anticipation. His return not only strengthens the team’s roster but sets the stage for what could be an epic redemption arc.
Crickex Sign Up also notes growing speculation about how Irving’s return might impact Kevin Love. Last season, Love’s stats dipped noticeably when Irving was on the floor. This year, Cleveland has increased Love’s offensive role significantly in Irving’s absence. Whether the two can maintain chemistry remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt the Cavaliers need both players—alongside LeBron James—to chase the championship they narrowly missed last season.