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Malika Andrews
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ESPN Copywriter- Writer employee
- Joined ESPN in 2018
- Appears regularly on ESPN Chicago 1000
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Adrian Wojnarowski
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Senior NBA Insider- The Woj Pod Host
- Joined ESPN in 2017
As the NBA must review the videos circulating on the social media of a Kyrie Irving without a mask at what appears to be a family birthday party, there is no belief that the Brooklyn Nets guard will return to the team this week, sources told ESPN .
Irving was already excluded from his fourth straight game on Tuesday night against Denver, and sources say that, at the very least, he should miss Wednesday’s game against New York and Saturday’s game against Orlando. His absence was attributed to personal reasons.
In the videos – which started to be widely shared on Monday night – a smiling Irving is dancing with his sister Asia on a confetti-covered floor and clapping his hands while blowing out the candles. If the video is considered recent, this behavior may be in violation of the league’s coronavirus protocols.
The league’s COVID-19 guidelines prohibit players from going to clubs, bars and lounges. They also prohibit participation in social gatherings with more than 15 people.
This investigation takes place during a turbulent week, while the league is reevaluating its health and safety rules against the coronavirus. The league canceled three games this week with positive COVID-19 tests and increased contact tracking quarantines.
The NBA board of governors is holding a special meeting on Tuesday, sources said to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The team’s general managers received a call on Monday to tighten protocols.
The NBA has investigated other health and safety violations this season. In December, Black Sports Online posted a video of James Harden’s party, unmasked, allegedly at a Houston club Christmas party. After an investigation, the league fined the Houston Rockets star $ 50,000 and he had to be quarantined for four days while returning negative daily tests of COVID-19.
Harden never lost a game.
If a player loses a game due to violation of COVID-19, he will lose 1/72 of his salary, according to the rules of the league.