NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving will not be traveling with the Brooklyn Nets on their upcoming three-way trip while dealing with a family affair, the team announced Monday morning.
Irving will miss the Brooklyn games against Trail Blazers, Jazz and Pistons.
The Nets are already short. Coach Steve Nash said Kevin Durant had been sidelined with a hamstring injury since Feb. 12, but that he was closer to his return. They will also be without Landry Shamet, who has emerged as a key player off the bench. Shamet sprained his right ankle against the Wizards on Sunday and will not travel with the team on Monday, although his MRI did not show significant damage, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Irving has been in and out of the Nets series this season and has played in 31 of their 43 games. He missed two weeks in January for a personal absence. During the time away from the team, Irving broke the league’s COVID-19 protocols, which further delayed his return to court. Irving was fined for not following the league’s coronavirus safety guidelines. On his return, Irving told reporters he “just needed a break”.
Since then, Irving has missed four games for injury maintenance.
Irving scored 28.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season.