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Kyrie Irving to return to Nets, would play in road games

Kyrie Irving is apparently getting closer to play road games for the Nets. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Kyrie Irving working on return to Nets, would play in road games

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/17/21

The Brooklyn Nets essentially exiled All-Star guard Kyrie Irving away from the team earlier this fall and before the start of the season because of his outright refusal to receive one of the safe and available COVID-19 vaccines that has made him ineligible to participate in any games held in New York City because of local laws regarding entering venues such as Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden.

Without Irving, the Nets sit at 21-8 but have recently dealt with multiple coronavirus-related issues and injury setbacks. Brooklyn previously was against allowing Irving to play in just road games in places where no mandates prohibiting unvaccinated individuals from entering arenas existed, but NBA insiders Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania now report that's no longer the case:

ESPN Sources: With the unfolding circumstances of Brooklyn’s season – including injuries, Covid losses and an inordinate minutes load on their superstar players – the Nets are bringing back All-Star guard Kyrie Irving as a part-time player for games outside of New York.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 17, 2021

Nets owner Joe Tsai, GM Sean Marks, Coach Steve Nash and key players were fully supportive of the idea --- and Irving has been eager to return to play in the team’s away games. He can start practicing at team facility.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 17, 2021

So far, Irving has been unwilling satisfy New York City mandates and become vaccinated to play home games, but the turbulence of the ongoing NBA season has caused the organization to reconsider their preseason decision to fully sideline Irving, sources said. https://t.co/OdfJT6Kd26
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 17, 2021

Just in: All-NBA star Kyrie Irving has started process to return to the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Irving is ramping up, has begun team COVID-19 testing, and his season debut date is still to be determined.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 17, 2021

Sources: Kyrie Irving will play in road games and practice at home with the Brooklyn Nets. He is expected to practice with the team in the coming days. https://t.co/QilgYMM4Lo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 17, 2021

Breakthrough COVID-19 cases are spreading like wildfire throughout the NBA, NFL and NHL this month, and the Association has widely encouraged all eligible players, coaches, referees and other employees needed to complete games to get booster shots as soon as possible to prevent people from being sidelined due to serious coronavirus symptoms.

Brooklyn superstar and NBA Most Valuable Player candidate Kevin Durant recently hinted he'd spoken with Irving about a potential return to the Nets and to competitive action. It's unclear when Irving might play in his first game, but it seems that he isn't all that close to returning to the lineup:

Kyrie Irving's return isn't expected quickly. He has to pass a series of Covid tests before he can start working out with team. Nets haven't seen him workout and are unclear the kind of shape he's in now. He's expected to take his time ramping up again.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 17, 2021

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