NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving returned to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday after two weeks away from the team.
“I’m back, I’m happy to be back,” Irving told reporters. “And we got some great pieces and we just moved on and I let my actions and my game speak for itself, as I planned to do. I just needed a break.”
Irving trained with the team on Tuesday and coach Steve Nash said he “expects” Irving to play on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving had lost the team’s last seven games – five for personal reasons and two during conditioning.
Irving said he “had a lot of personal and family things going on. So I just want to leave it at that.”
During the time away for personal reasons, the league fined Irving $ 50,000 for violating health and safety protocols and attending what appeared to be a family birthday party. He also lost more than $ 800,000 in salary for the two games he lost during the quarantine.
Irving declined to answer whether or not he knew he was violating the league’s coronavirus safety rules, saying, “Happy to be back. Thank you.”
Irving’s last game for Brooklyn was on January 5. The next day, a crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the United States Capitol. Irving said on Tuesday that he needs to “separate” current political and social events in the United States and play in the NBA.
“If you don’t create that distinction,” said Irving, “then it’s easy to feel the weight of the world as you go over there and play. So I would be lying here and saying that I don’t feel what’s going on in the world, nor am I paying I just have a huge responsibility, I feel, to continue to serve my community and the needy. And when I’m here playing, I keep letting those guys know and committing to something, as I always say, bigger than us . “
Irving said it is “hard to ignore” what is going on in the world and wants to continue to “make daily changes”. Still, he said he is committed to playing basketball.
“When things get overwhelming in life, you just need to step back and realize what’s important,” said Irving. “And I love to play – it was never an issue. I committed myself, when it wasn’t even a thing for me.”
Irving apologized to fans who may have been frustrated or disappointed by his absence, saying he understood their perspective because “I started out as a fanatic. I’ve been investing in this organization since I was a child.”
“My commitment has always been to bring something special to Brooklyn,” said Irving. “It wasn’t just a championship. It was unity, equality, just bigger things than just the game itself. It took a long time and a few vouchers to get home initially. So for me, I’m just taking it every day, just being grateful. “
Irving said he addressed his teammates and the organization individually.