Photo by Rashad Milligan for rolling out
Brooklyn Nets superstar guard Kyrie Irving has started the process to return to his team, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Irving is currently “ramping up” and has begun the team’s COVID-19 testing. His season debut date is still to be determined. The return, however, will be part-time, as he can only participate in games outside of New York and California.
The seven-time NBA All-Star hasn’t played this season after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. New York laws wouldn’t allow him to play in home games as well as road games in the state of California due to vaccine mandates. Entertainers like Chris Brown came to Irving’s defense publicly and called him a hero for his decision to not get the shot.
The Nets lead the Eastern Conference with a 21-8 record, although fellow All-Star guard James Harden was recently placed in the team’s COVID protocol. Brooklyn’s superstar Kevin Durant has played all season, ranking fourth in the NBA at a 37 point average. The concern and question surrounding Durant’s durability around the robust pace of play in his 15th season apparently stem from his missing the past season and-a-half due to an Achilles tear.
Before the season, Durant and Harden reportedly held a meeting with the Nets’ front office and decided to keep Irving off the team until he was able to fully participate with Brooklyn again.
