(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
By Sam Britt
(BROOKLYN) Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $50,000 for violating the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols.
Irving violated the rule prohibiting players from attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments. Irving was seen on video celebrating his father and sister’s birthday last weekend.
Irving will forfeit his salary for any games he misses due to the five-day quarantine period he must take part in before returning to team activities. He would be able to rejoin the team on Jan. 16 if he continues to test negative. He would not miss a game if he returned on that date.
Irving has missed the last five games due to personal reasons. KRON4’s Jason Dumas reported that initially, Irving sat out due to the riots at the U.S. Capitol.
"I won't speak about Kyrie. I'll let him do that for himself," Durant said after Irving’s absence at the Nets-Thunder game. "I'm sure you guys will see him soon, whenever he comes back, and we support him 100 percent and pray for the best."
Besides the birthday celebration, Irving was seen on a zoom meeting with New York District Attorney candidate Tahani Aboushi about “an organizing program launch.”
Nets general manager Sean Marks said on Thursday he has talked to Irving and that he "knows [Kyrie] is excited about getting back on the court with his teammates as soon as possible."
He also mentioned the acquisition of former league MVP James Harden from the Houston Rockets had no connection to Irving’s absence.