The Brooklyn Nets were still able to come out with a victory against the 76ers on Thursday, but it probably would have been easier had Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving taken the floor.
For Durant, the Nets can expect him to be out for a few more games, as he serves out mandatory isolation as a result of COVID-19 protocols.
Irving’s situation is much simpler. After saying he was out for “personal reasons” the star himself revealed his absence from the game on Thursday night was simply the result of him not wanting to play…
Kyrie Irving’s reasoning for not playing in tonight’s game per a close source: “I just didn’t want to play.”
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) January 8, 2021
Translation: He took a personal day.
Mental health is important.
Irving took a personal day after the death of Kobe Bryant last year. https://t.co/KpSjpzG1Z5
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) January 8, 2021
Follow-up reports have surfaced, claiming that Kyrie skipped the game as a result of Wednesday’s assault on the U.S. Capitol by rioters. Kyrie has yet to confirm or deny whether that claim is accurate.
Source: Kyrie Irving sat out of tonight’s game because of what transpired on Wednesday in Washington DC.
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) January 8, 2021
Obviously, Kyrie’s excuse for sitting out is drawing heavy criticism, as the guy is getting paid $33 million this season ($458,33 per game this season) to show up and play for his team. Many feel as though taking a personal day isn’t a good enough excuse to just not show up to a game.
and y’all wonder why people clown Kyrie so much
This morning they said it was personal and I was genuinely concerned. now he’s inserting foot into mouth again.
— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) January 8, 2021
My mom is a teacher, she gets paid only 50k a year and she has to drive an hour back and forth every day and stay at her job for 9 hours and she can't take any days off just because she doesn't feel like it lol
— JD (@Methodikul) January 8, 2021
“Personal reasons”
— MVP Mills (@HTownTeam) January 8, 2021
This is ridiculous and the kind of thing that should get him seriously judged in a negative manner. Wtf kind of competitive nature is this? You get to play the best team in your conference and make a statement but you "just didn't want to play"?? Nah
— Jim Fillingame (@JimmyAF1991) January 8, 2021
Fr, w & he gets payed millions of dollars just to sit out cause he didn’t wanna play, Adam silver should fine him
— Simmons is washed (@SimmonsLVP2025) January 8, 2021
Irving’s popularity with the fans has been questionable since he started his “flat earth” conspiracy comments years ago, and it seems he just hasn’t been able to handle media relations well ever since.
Still, mental health is important, and Wednesday night’s D.C. riot could certainly have impacted him in a negative way.
The Nets hope he will return to play for their game Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
