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Kyrie Irvinghas entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols — less than 24 hours after the Brooklyn Nets announced he would be returning to the team part-time.
Now, Irving must return negative tests for five consecutive days before he is eligible to return to game action. Once eligible to return, however, Irving will still be unable to play in the Nets' home games due to New York City’s COVID-19 guidelines, as he remains unvaccinated.
Kevin Durant alsoentered health and safety protocolson Saturday, per the team, bringing the total up to nine players.
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The Nets announced their decision tobring back Irving for road gameson Friday after a seventh Brooklyn player had entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols since Monday.
“We arrived at this decision with the full support of our players and after careful consideration of our current circumstances, including players missing games due to injuries and health and safety protocols,” general manager Sean Marks said in a statement on Friday.
“We believe that the addition of Kyrie will not only make us a better team but allow us to more optimally balance the physical demand on the entire roster,” added Marks.
Prior to the 2021-22 season opener in October, the Nets announced that Irvingwould not be permittedto play or practice with Brooklyn without being vaccinated. At the time, Marks said, “Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose.”
He added, “Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.”
“This wasn’t something that I foresaw coming where I prepared for it and had a chance to strategize on what was going to be best for me and my family. I chose to be unvaccinated. And that was my choice,” Irving later added. “And I would ask y’all just to respect that choice.”
The Nets will next play the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
source: people.com
