Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $ 50,000 for violating the league’s health and safety protocols and has been ordered to participate in a five-day quarantine, said league industry president Byron Spruell. announced in the NBA Friday.
Irving will be allowed to return to team activities on Saturday if he remains negative for COVID-19, and sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Irving is expected to play in the game against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Irving has been away from the team for the past five games for personal reasons. The Nets did not release details of Irving’s absence, but general manager Sean Marks said Thursday the guard said he was looking forward to returning to the team.
According to an NBA release, Irving violated the protocols by attending a private indoor party last weekend. The release recorded the league’s rules against ‘indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or access to bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments.’
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Irving will forfeit $ 816,898 salary for the two games he missed this week due to his quarantine.
Irving’s new teammate James Harden was fined $ 50,000 in December for violating the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol after the league reviewed the video of him masquerading as a club.