Kevin Durant envisions Kyrie Irving as part of the Brooklyn Nets ahead of a tough season. Irving is still unvaccinated, and he will be unable to help the Nets in their home games if he does not get at least one shot.
As uncertainty increases each day surrounding the All-Star guard’s status, Kevin Durant says the Nets are eagerly awaiting to be whole again, however Irving’s decision on the vaccine is personal.
(via ESPN):
“I’m envisioning Kyrie being a part of our team,” the star forward told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “Maybe I’m just naïve, but that is just how I feel. But I think everybody here has that confidence in themselves, in our group, that if we keep building, we can do something special.”
Irving practiced with the Nets at their training camp in San Diego last week. The Nets are in Brooklyn now, where they will face Milwaukee Friday.
“I want him a part of this group,” Durant said on Kyrie. “He’s a special player. We want him a part of this group. But a lot of stuff is out of our control, and we will let him figure that out for himself.
It doesn’t mean that I will say that I don’t want him on the team. He’s a huge part of what we do, but guys got to step up in his absence and be who they are and move forward.”
Irving missed his second straight day of practice, as New York City’s COVID-19 protocols only allow players with at least one vaccination shot to practice and play indoors.
