NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving will not travel with the Brooklyn Nets on their next three-game trip while dealing with a family issue, the team announced Monday morning.
Irving will miss Brooklyn’s games against the Trail Blazers, Jazz and Pistons.
Nets are already short. Kevin Durant has been eliminated since Feb. 13 with a hamstring strain, but is getting closer to returning, said coach Steve Nash. They will also be without Landry Shamet, who has emerged as a key player on the bench. Shamet squeezed his right ankle against the wizards on Sunday and will not travel with the team on Monday, although his MRI showed no significant damage, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Irving has joined and left the Nets range this season, having played in 31 of his 43 games. He missed two weeks in January due to a personal absence. Meanwhile, away from the team, Irving violated the league’s COVID-19 protocols, which further delayed his return to court. Irving was fined for failing to follow the coronavirus league’s safety guidelines. When he returned, Irving told reporters he “just needed a break.”
Since then, Irving has missed four games to maintain the accidents.
Irving has an average of 28.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season.