Kyrie Irving returned to the Brooklyn Nets’ practice for the first time since the preseason and said he understood why the team decided to have him stay away because of New York City’s vaccine mandate.
“I understood their decision and respected it,” Irving told Nets beat writers after Wednesday’s practice, making his first comments since Oct. 13. “I really had to sit back and think and try not to become too emotionally attached to what they were deciding to do. I had to really evaluate things and see it from their perspective, meaning the organization, my teammates.
“I really empathized and I understood their choice to say if you are not going to be fully vaccinated, then you can’t be a full participate.”
Coach Steve Nash has said that Irving will need to ramp up for a week to two weeks before he can return in a road game.
“I’ve missed so much time,” Irving said of being away. “It’s my first day back around the block with the guys and it felt like it’s been a long time. It’s only been what, three months or so. But it has felt like the days have been slowly crossed off the calendar while I am sitting at home. When I thought about [returning to practice] last night, I could barely sleep.”
Irving has not been with the team on a regular basis since practicing with the team for a week in San Diego during training camp in early October. With New York City mandating that players get vaccinated in order to play at Barclays Center, the Nets in October decided against having Irving be with the team for road games and practices as well.
“I knew the consequences,” Irving said of not being vaccinated and having to be away from the team. “I wasn’t prepared for them by no stretch of the imagination. Coming into the season, I had my thought process on being a full-time teammate and just going out and have fun and provide a great brand of basketball. But unfortunately it didn’t happen like that. Things happen for a reason. We are here and I am just grateful for this.”
With a…
Source : espn
