Reports: Suspended Kyrie Irving is expected to return against Memphis Grizzlies
Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets is expected to rejoin the team on Sunday as they host the Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center, NBA insiders Shams Charania and Chris Haynes tweeted on Thursday. Irving has been suspended since Nov. 4 in the wake of promoting a film that had antisemitic beliefs.
Irving will miss his eighth straight game on Thursday night when Brooklyn (6-9) plays the Western Conference-leading Portland Trail Blazers (10-4). For the Nets, it's the last game of a five-game road trip. Including Thursday, Brooklyn has played seven road games while Irving has been suspended.
Nets owner Joe Tsai tweeted this about Irving on Nov. 11:
“We spent quality time to understand each other and it’s clear to me that Kyrie does not have any beliefs of hate towards Jewish people or any group,” Tsai tweeted on Nov. 11. “The Nets and Kyrie, together with the NBA and NBPA, are working constructively toward a process of forgiveness, healing and education.”
Just In: Suspended Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is expected to be cleared to play on Sunday vs. Memphis at Barclays Center, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Kyrie Irving back for the Nets
Before being suspended, Kyrie Irving displayed his elite talent on the court. He averaged 26.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
But his last game before the suspension saw one of the worst performances of his career, scoring just four points in a 108-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls as the Nets slumped to 2-6.
Although the season is young, Brooklyn, 12th in the Eastern Conference, is hopeful that it can get a top seed in the East and find success come playoff time.
So far, the Irving-Durant era has provided just one playoff series win. Last year, after Brooklyn slumped when Kevin Durant got injured, the Nets had to go through the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs. Brooklyn then became the only team swept in the playoffs, getting dispatched by the Boston Celtics.
Still, with Kevin Durant running the offense, anything can happen for the Nets.
Weirdly enough, the Nets started winning when Kyrie Irving was off of the court. Although it was a small sample size, it's certainly something to think about. Brooklyn won four of five games, but their last two games have been disasters. They were outclassed by the struggling LA Lakers 116-103 on Sunday and got blown out by the surprising Sacramento Kings 153-121 on Tuesday.
Irving and the Nets can both use each other in this situation and get ready to take on a Memphis Grizzlies team that's one of the best in the Western Conference.