Kyrie Irving's return to the Brooklyn Nets is imminent.
Following reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski , general manager Sean Marks announced that the franchise has changed its stance on Irving being a part-time participant, making way for the seven-time All-Star to begin the process of rejoining the team.
The following statement has been released by General Manager Sean Marks: pic.twitter.com/DAldOYe4nj
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 18, 2021
"After discussions with our coaches, players and staff, the organization has decided to have Kyrie Irving re-join the team for games and practices in which he is eligible to participate," the statement read. Marks continued, adding that "we believe that the addition of Kyrie will not only make us a better team but allow us to more optimally balance the physical demand of the entire roster.
In accordance with New York City guidelines for persons that are not vaccincated for COVID-19 , Irving, who is not vaccinated, can not play in games that take place in New York but can practice at the team's private facility and be a full participant in road games.
Ahead of the 2021-22 season, Marks released a statement regarding Irving's availability, saying that "we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant."
According to Wojnarowski, a recent string of injuries and a COVID outbreak within the Nets has exacerbated the team's need for Irving, prompting the franchise to change its course on allowing the superstar guard to participate on a part-time basis.
As a byproduct of the lack of available bodies, the team has been forced to make use of the NBA's hardship exemption and Kevin Durant is second in the league in minutes per game. Irving's return increases Brooklyn's rotation and decreases the usage of its MVP.
When could Kyrie Irving make his season debut?
It might be a while.
According to Wojnarowski, Irving will have to undergo a series of COVID tests before he can join the teaam. Irving, who has not been with the team since October, will likely be placed into a return-to-play conditioning program in order to ramp up his activity.
Kyrie Irving has to test negative on five successive days before he can rejoin the team. Once he returns, he will have to test every day as an unvaccinated player. https://t.co/L1RwG8GORQ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 17, 2021
As it stands, 29 of the Nets 53 remaining regular season games will take place in either New York City or Toronto, meaning Irving could play in a maximum of 24 games this season.
Given the process of Irving's return to play, the realistic number is likely somewhere in the teens.
Nets schedule 2021-22
| Date (ET) | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| Dec. 18 | vs. Orlando | 7:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 19 | vs. Nuggets | 7:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 21 | vs. Wizards | 7:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 23 | at Trail Blazers | 10:00 p.m. |
| Dec. 25 | at Lakers | 8:00 p.m. |
| Dec. 27 | at Clippers | 10:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 30 | vs. 76ers | 7:00 p.m. |
| Jan. 1 | vs. Clippers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 3 | vs. Grizzlies | 7:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 5 | at Pacers | 7:30 p.m. |
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