The Nets were only playing a preseason game Friday night, but they got a huge win with the news that Kyrie Irving will now be allowed to practice at home.
Irving’s refusal to comply with local vaccine mandates had meant he was banned from playing at Barclays Center and even from participating in team activities such as practice at HSS Training Center. But New York City determined that the practice facility is a private office building, clearing the way for the All-Star to practice.
“It’s positive for us to be able to welcome him back in the building and practice and be part of the team,” Nets head coach Steve Nash said of the news. “But like I said, this is all just brand new information to us as well, so I’m trying to work through what the actual details are so I don’t want to comment too much on it until I know firmly what the parameters are. But it sounds like it’s positive.”
To be clear, Irving still can’t play in home games at Barclays Center unless he gets at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or the current mandates change. But this news — first reported by The Athletic and confirmed by The Post — comes as a significant break for the Nets.
It was almost incomprehensible that Irving would have to be a part-time player, only practicing and suiting up on the road. This changes that dynamic somewhat.
“My first thought is that it’s positive. We have him around the team for a larger period of our season, and we’ll see what happens,” Nash said. “This rule just came in. Is another one coming? Is he going to be allowed to play at home at some point? Not going to be able to practice in our facility at some point? We’re just kind of following the latest.
“I don’t think that anyone has been through this before. Obviously, the pandemic has been new to everyone. But now we’re in a position where the pandemic is creating all these different, new scenarios as well. I really don’t know what to say other than that it’s positive that he can now rejoin his teammates in our practice center and train and gives us more touch points with him, and we’ll go from there.”
Irving hadn’t been able to practice since the Nets returned from California on Monday. His last practice with the team was last Saturday in San Diego, and he had been facing the prospect of not being able to practice at all at home.
Now, there is at least a chance that he will be able to join the Nets for Saturday’s outdoor practice at Brooklyn Bridge Park (more of a fan event than an actual workout) and its even likelier that he will practice Sunday at HSS Training Center.
“The hope is that Ky is at practice [Saturday]. It’d be great to have him there. But I can’t confirm that yet,” Nash said. “[We’re] looking forward to having him back. I think [Saturday] is likely and Sunday [more]. But we’ll see.”
With a week away from organized team activities, the Nets plan to be cautious with Irving. They’ll treat this almost like a return from injury and ramp him up before letting him play full bore.
“Yeah, more or less because when someone’s able to resume full activity on the court, they still would have to meet a certain amount of intensity before you put them in the game,” Nash said. “Even if you’re not injured, you still have to reach a threshold.”
The Nets will play Monday at Philadelphia, meaning Irving will be eligible to suit up against the 76ers. It could be the first time the Big 3 play together since Game 1 of last season’s second-round playoff loss to the Bucks.
“It sounds like we may have Kyrie on the road with us, but I’m not sure if he’ll be playing since we haven’t had him for a week and, obviously, safety first,” Nash said. “Not going to put him at a huge risk of injury but a lot to be worked through. We’re just kind of getting information at the same time you are, so we’ll see.”
