Kyrie Irving will make his 2021-22 season debut on Wednesday as he, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and the rest of the Brooklyn Nets will travel to Indianapolis to take on the Pacers. The Athletic’s Shams Charania states Irving has targeted Wednesday as his return date.
Speaking with NBA.com, Nets head coach Steve Nash spoke to Irving’s forthcoming appearance and stated it depends on “how he feels and whether we determine it is safe for him to come back.”
Last week, while speaking to the media, Irving revealed he understood the stance the Nets took in asking him to stay away from the team due to city vaccination requirements.
“I understood their decision and respected it,” Irving said, according to ESPN. “I really had to sit back and think and try not to become too emotionally attached to what they were deciding to do. I had to really evaluate things and see it from their perspective, meaning the organization, my teammates.
“I really empathized and I understood their choice to say if you are not going to be fully vaccinated, then you can’t be a full [participate].”
Kyrie is still about a week or two away from taking the court and once he is ready, Irving will only be available for road games.
“Incredibly grateful just to be back in the building,” Irving said. “Welcomed back with open arms [from] my teammates, the whole organization. Not gonna lie, it has been relatively tough to watch from the sideline with everything going on in the world. I know everybody is feeling it [COVID]. Just praying for everybody to be healthy during these times. If I get the opportunity to get on the court and play with my teammates, even if it is just on the road for away games, I am grateful for the opportunity.”
