#11 Certified Kyrie Irving Is Back Shocking The Basketball World Again
Kyrie Irving is back?
Yes the great Kyrie Irving is back playing basketball with the Brooklyn Nets. Kyrie Irving who has been sitting out the NBA season thus far because he for his own reasons would not get a COVID-19 shot. The issue is New York City sports arena laws, will not let him play games in New York (of course his home team city). He also can not practice with them in New York for COVID restrictions.
So at that point the Nets had him sitting out because he in essence would become a “part-time player” being that he can't practice with the team nor play any home games. Up to this point Kyrie Irving had missed the Nets first 35 games. Why other than trying to keep up the Nets brought him I'm not sure. Brooklyn of course with Kyrie's incredible and elite basketball skills makes them and even more formidable team (they were 23 wins and 12 losses before his return)
Kyrie Irving's Return
Kyrie Irving came back to play Wednesday January 5th in Indiana. The Nets defeated the Indiana Pacers 129-121. Kyrie Irving with no previous pre-season type official training went out and scored 22 points had 4 assists 3 rebounds and 3 steals in 31 minutes. Some of the plays he made were truly in his own way electrifying. The Nets next game is tonight Friday January 7th and Kyrie will not play tonight as the Nets are at home against the Milwaukee Bucks in Brooklyn (I guess the Nets could use him tonight 🙂 )
What Did Kyrie Have To Say After Wednesday's Game?
Kyrie was asked after the game on Wednesday if his stance on getting the vaccine might change in the near future.
“Man, I'm just taking it one day at a time,” he said. “Like I said earlier in the season, it's not an ideal situation and I'm always praying that things get figured out and we're able to come to some collective agreement, whether it be with the league or it's just things that's going on that could help kind of ease what we're all dealing with COVID-19 and the vaccine.
“I think everybody's feeling it, so I don't want to make it simply about me and someone lessening the rules for me. I know what the consequences were, I still know what they are, but right now I'm just going to take it one day at a time like I said and just enjoy this time I get to play with my guys. And however it looks later in the season, then we'll address it then.”
Before getting up from the podium, Irvin smiled when asked if that meant getting vaccinated was still a possibility.
“Oh come on, man,” Irving said. “Don't hang onto me.” (whatever that means, seams like a natural question)
Just for the record I do respect Irving's and anybody else's right for their choice on this subject. Many people have many varied reasons and fears and mistrusts for not getting vaccinated. I from the very beginning some deep and struggling thoughts and discussions about whether or not I should get vaccinated. Now back to basketball….
Kyrie Irving's Teammates Thoughts On His Return?
Kevin Durant, said it was “incredible” to have Irving back.
“It was amazing to have him out there,” Durant said. “I just missed his presence around the locker room, his energy, his vibe around the team. And then his game is just so beautiful. It makes the game so much easier for everybody out there. It was amazing to see him out on the floor again.
Durant went on to say of his teammate after win: ‘The game of basketball is happy to have him back'
“The crowd showed him so much love, teammates, just the game of basketball is happy to have him back. He made the game so much more difficult for the Pacers, giving us a different attack, especially in the fourth quarter. We'll just keep building on this.” Cool, sure doesn't make weaker as Irving is an incredible talent and the “Big 3's” unique blend of skill sets including as some might not believe, ball sharing and great passing skills being among them, lead to making them a more than formidable team to deal with. The offense with those 3 and some great “fit” pieces like extreme sharpshooter Joe Harris (currently injure but expected back for playoffs) tough matchup and supposedly retired Lamarcus Aldridge, The multi-talented front liner Blake Griffin and tough Paul Millsap among some others they will be a tough team to deal with.
Of course there are some deficiencies including and no small thing, the abysmal lack of defense overall and more specific Kyrie himself and the woeful to nonexistent defense of James Harden 🙂 🙂
Anyway back to his teammate's thoughts after Wednesday's game….
“It's special,” James Harden said. “It felt like he's been playing all season. He looked comfortable as usual, his pace, his rhythm. It looked like Kyrie.”
Harden also said
“Special, feels like he's been playing all season”
“Harden said he knows it's going to take a little more time for the Nets to come together with Irving back in the fold, but the sense of belief Irving brought back to the floor was palpable.”
We will continue to follow this situation and in the mean time we can somewhat enjoy Kyrie Irving's more than mad ball handling wizardry….