Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has reunited with the team for practices, but he won’t appear in any of the team’s exhibition games this preseason.
Nets coach Steve Nash said Sunday that Irving would not be making the road trip Monday to play a preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers, per Ian Begley of SNY.
Irving is ineligible to play in the preseason finale on Thursday at Barclays Center against the Minnesota Timberwolves per New York City’s COVID-19 policy. That leaves the regular-season opener on Oct. 19 in Milwaukee as the game in which we might see Irving make his season debut.
On Saturday, Irving went to Brooklyn Bridge Park for the Nets’ open practice. The 29-year-old was seen spending time with fans and going 1-on-1 with teammate Kevin Durant.
On Sunday, Irving made his way to the Nets’ HSS Training Center for a regular team practice, making it his first at the facility this preseason. The building was reclassified by New York City officials as a private business not subject to the city’s COVID-19 policy, clearing the way for Irving to practice with the team.
Regarding Irving’s availability to the team, Nash had this to say on Sunday, “I think we recognize he’s not playing home games. We’re going to have to for sure play without him this year. So it just depends on when, where and how much.”
Kyrie making a fan for life 🙏
(Via @BrooklynNets)pic.twitter.com/s6VeXlzC8k
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) October 9, 2021
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