Nearly two weeks after the Brooklyn Nets announced plans to welcome back Kyrie Irving as a part-time player for games outside of New York, the polarizing point guard returned to practice on Wednesday.
Addressing the media for the first time since September, Kyrie told reporters he understood the organization’s decision to keep him sidelined due to his unwillingness to satisfy New York City mandates and become vaccinated.
“I understood their decision and I respected it,” Irving said, according to New York Post reporter Brian Lewis. “I really had to sit back and try not to become too emotionally attached to what they were deciding to do. I had to sit down and really evaluate things and and see it from their perspective.”
Kyrie went on to express his excitement to return to the Nets.
“Last night I could barely sleep,” he said. “I’m like, man, I just don’t want to come out and not be who I know I am as a player...(My) heart racing and just not being nervous and touching the basketball again, and just the rhythm of the game. I missed it.”
Irving has not yet played this season because he has refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19. New York City’s vaccine mandate requires all residents to have at least one shot of any COVID vaccine to enter indoor gyms, which includes the Barclays Center.
Back in October, the Nets said Irving would not practice or play with the team until he can be a full-time participant.
“Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant,” Nets GM Sean Marks said in a statement at the time.
“Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose,” he added. “Currently, the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the term, and we will permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.”
