Kyrie Irving's 2020-21 campaign started with a bang. The Nets guard scored an efficient 26 points in a season-opening win against the Warriors, then followed that up with 37 points in a Christmas Day victory against the Celtics.
The 28-year-old is averaging 27.1 points, 6.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from 3-point range. The problem? He has only played seven games while his team has played 13.
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Irving has not been part of Brooklyn's lineup since participating in a Jan. 5 contest against the Jazz. There have been rumors and speculation surrounding Irving recently, but little in the way of concrete information.
So what's going on with Irving? Here's what we know (and don't know) about his mysterious absence.
Why is Kyrie Irving not playing?
The Nets continue to list Irving as out for "personal reasons."
Nets @HSpecialSurgery Status Report for tonight's game at the Knicks: pic.twitter.com/XkFfekVLAP
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 13, 2021
Multiple reports have claimed Irving is sitting out because he was upset after pro-Donald Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Irving and the Nets have not commented on those reports.
Brooklyn coach Steve Nash has spoken to Irving, but he has consistently said he does not want to share details about his conversations with the six-time All-Star.
"Ky's still on personal leave, and all the communication with Ky between the organization, I'm going to keep private," Nash said on Jan. 10 before a game between the Nets and Thunder. "I'm sure you'll hear from him at some point."
Kevin Durant, who joined the Nets during 2019 free agency along with Irving, also declined to get into specifics.
"I won't speak about Kyrie. I'll let him do that for himself," Durant said after the Nets-Thunder game. "I'm sure you guys will see him soon, whenever he comes back, and we support him 100 percent and pray for the best."
"We support him 100%"
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 11, 2021
Kevin Durant says the players have Kyrie Irving's back pic.twitter.com/Mu2U7kLHha
How many games has Kyrie Irving missed?
So far, Irving has sat out five games:
- Jan. 7 vs. 76ers
- Jan. 8 vs. Grizzlies
- Jan. 10 vs. Thunder
- Jan. 12 vs. Nuggets
- Jan. 13 vs. Knicks
Irving missed a Dec. 28 contest against Memphis, but that was not related to "personal reasons." Both Durant (Achilles) and Irving (shoulder) were listed as out for "injury recovery."
When will Kyrie Irving return to the Nets?
The NBA concluded its investigation into a video of a maskless Irving celebrating at an indoor party and announced Jan. 15 that Irving will be allowed to return to team activities on Jan. 16 if he continues to test negative for COVID-19. Irving was fined $50,000 and forced to forfeit salary for the games he missed during his five-day quarantine period after violating the league's health and safety protocols.
Kyrie Irving will forfeit $816,898 for the 2 games missed this past week.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 15, 2021
ESPN's Malika Andrews reported that Irving has expressed "a desire to return" but will not play in the Nets' Jan. 16 game against the Magic.
Sources: Kyrie Irving will be out due to health and safety protocols for Saturday’s game against Orlando.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) January 15, 2021
While Irving has expressed a desire to return, sources say, the extensive time away from the court requires a period of ramping up basketball activities.