Kyrie Irving drops powerful 3-word message as Phil Handy set to wear Dallas Mavericks jersey

Kyrie Irving shared a special moment this week as the Dallas Mavericks welcomed a new coach to their staff. Veteran NBA assistant Phil Handy entered the Mavericks' Dallas practice facility and Irving welcomed him with a loving hug and a light three-word message.

Three-time NBA champion coach Handy had worked with Irving during their successful run with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

NBA veteran coach Phil Handy joins Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving greets him with 3-word message

On July 15, the Dallas Mavericks hired Phil Handy as a new coach. Handy is a three-time NBA champion. He last worked with the Los Angeles Lakers and was with the Lakers until the 2023–24 season. As Handy entered the Mavericks’ practice facility in Dallas, Texas, he was welcomed by Kyrie Irving with a big hug and a simple, cheerful greeting: “Sup, Dallas Mav?!!”

The moment was captured in a video posted by the Mavericks and reshared on the social media platform X.

The quick three-word message didn’t just welcome Handy, it reminded fans of the long bond between the two.Kyrie Irving and Phil Handy go way back. Handy was a key player development coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers during their 2015–16 NBA championship run, where Irving played a major role. That season, under head coach Tyronn Lue and staff members like Handy, Irving averaged 19.6 points, 4.7 assists, and 3 rebounds. His performance peaked during the 2016 NBA Finals, when he scored 41 points in Game 5 alongside LeBron James.

“Ky is an unbelievable talent,” Phil Handy said in a 2021 interview with Basketball News. “The challenge was helping him understand how powerful his game could be with focused work.”

How Phil Handy helped Kyrie Irving grow into a champion

The connection between Phil Handy and Kyrie Irving began in 2013, when Handy joined the Cavaliers' coaching staff. Irving was still developing as a young guard. Handy, known for building strong relationships with players, became one of the few coaches Irving trusted deeply.

In a 2020 interview on The James Posey Podcast, Handy said he had an honest conversation with Irving during those early years:“Do you want to be a good player on a losing team, or one of the best point guards in the game?” Handy recalled asking.That moment stuck with Irving. Handy claims that Irving worked harder, changed his diet, and concentrated on every aspect of his game. Their cooperation in the 2016 Finals against the Golden State Warriors was rewarded. Still among the most memorable shots in NBA history is Irving's game-winning three-pointer in Game 7.Now in 2025, the two reunite under head coach Jason Kidd in Dallas. Handy joins a star-studded staff that includes Frank Vogel, Mike Penberthy, and Jay Triano. Handy had taken time off from the NBA after leaving the Lakers but stayed active, coaching in the new women’s Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.In an Instagram post, Handy said, “The last year off was needed... I became a better coach. I’m honored to join a great organization, city, coaches, and players.”Also Read: LeBron James draws an unusual analogy while revisiting his NBA Finals runsThe reunion with Irving isn’t just about coaching, it’s about unfinished business.