Adam Hunger / Associated Press
The NBA will examine videos posted on social media that appear to show Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving in a big meeting without a mask or social distance.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews reported Tuesday that there is “no belief” that Irving will return to the Nets team this week, while the league investigates the situation.
Billy Reinhardt @BillyReinhardt
Videos emerged of Kyrie Irving at a big birthday party alongside her sister, Asia. Kyrie’s sister and father have birthdays this week. Given the size of the meeting and now its public nature, Kyrie may now have to go through a quarantine period before returning. https://t.co/McrYtFH9XK https://t.co/U4T1KAvMTl
Brooklyn announced On Monday, the 28-year-old Duke would lose his fourth consecutive game for personal reasons when he faced the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.
“I don’t have any updates, sorry,” Nets coach Steve Nash he told reporters.
Irving last played on January 5 in the win over Utah Jazz. He averaged 27.1 points, 6.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds in seven of the team’s 11 games so far in the 2020-21 season.
The Nets, who entered the campaign with championship expectations with the return of Kevin Durant, are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 5-6 record.
“I wouldn’t speak for Kyrie, I will let him do it for himself”, Durant said Domigo. “I’m sure you will see him soon when he returns, and we support him 100 percent and pray for the best.”
Being out for the rest of the week would mean at least three more absences for the All-Star’s six times. Along with Tuesday’s clash with the Nuggets, he would also miss games on Wednesday against the New York Knicks and Saturday against the Orlando Magic.
Caris LeVert, who has averaged 27.5 points in the last four games, is expected to continue to fill the gap in the Nets first team. They will also rely more on Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Landry Shamet to help fill the defensive rotation.
Houston Rockets star James Harden was previously fined $ 50,000 to the NBA for attending a covered party in late December.
The NBA investigation into Irving also takes place amid growing cases of COVID-19 across the league, which has led to three consecutive days with at least one postponement.