NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving met again in the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday and said he was partially missing because he “needed a hiatus.”
Irving trained with the team and could play in Cleveland on Wednesday. He missed the last seven games, five as he left the team and two more as he regained his fitness after being eligible to return.
Irving did not give a clear reason for his absence during a Zoom interview, saying that he has many family and personal things at the same time that he had to deal with.
Irving was fined $ 50,000 for violating NBA health and safety protocols after being seen at an indoor family party without wearing a mask in a video posted on social media during his absence. He also lost nearly $ 900,000 of his $ 3.5 million salary because two of the games he missed were during a mandatory quarantine period.
Irving said he was happy to be back with the team, which acquired James Harden in his absence. The Nets won both games from the transaction.