All-Star guard Kyrie Irving will have to explain himself to the Nets after missing time and violating the NBA’s health and safety protocols, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski said, via RealGM.
Irving was fined $50,000 and docked two game paychecks after video surfaced of him in a large gathering, believed to be a family birthday party. All the while, Irving was taking time away from the team for personal reasons.
“I think Kyrie is going to have to explain what’s transpired here in the last week,” Wojnarowski said. “Ultimately, teams have to be able to count on you. If there’s issues, if there are things they need to help Kyrie Irving work through, like any organization with a great player, they are going to be there to do that.
“Ultimately, they need to know you have seriously committed to this endeavor, this group, this team. Kyrie Irving has to be a leader on this team. He has to be a leader for good.
The Nets landed James Harden in a trade since Irving last played a game, giving them a fearsome threesome of Harden, Irving and Kevin Durant.
“Bringing James Harden in changes that dynamic. This is a team now that has three MVP-level players on it,” Wojnarowski said. “I do think, perhaps, the organization gained a little leverage now over Kyrie and over his future by landing James Harden.”
