Nets news: Kyrie Irving enters NBA’s health and safety protocol
The news of Kyrie Irving’s impending return to the Brooklyn Nets as a part-time player broke on Friday, but it seems there’s already been a setback to Irving’s plan.
Irving was initially ruled as ineligible by the Nets to compete as a part-time player, with the organization deciding that unless he met the vaccine requirements set by New York City, he was unwelcome as a member of the team. With the Nets missing more than half the roster due to a combination of injuries and COVID protocol, however, the situation has changed, and Irving is beginning the process to become a part-time player eligible to play in away games for the Nets.
Once Irving officially rejoins the team, he will then be subjected to daily testing as an unvaccinated player. On Saturday, however, news broke that Irving became the latest Nets player to enter health and safety protocol, making him the ninth (!) Nets player currently in protocol.
Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reported that Irving’s entry into protocol is not a routine part of his return to the Nets, and that he has returned a positive or inconclusive COVID-19 test.
Got some clarity from the Nets: Kyrie Irving would not have entered the health and safety protocols if he was merely testing to return to the team. He has returned a positive or inconclusive test, which requires 5 days of consecutive negative tests for unvaccinated players.
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) December 18, 2021
This will delay his eventual return as a part time player, but as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported, the Nets are expecting a slow buildup to a return from Irving, who has missed the entire season to this point.
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