FILE – Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics adjusts his face mask during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at TD Garden on December 2, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving is hurt before his Nets career even begins.
Irving sustained a left side facial fracture after being elbowed during a pickup game, and the Nets said Wednesday the All-Star point guard is listed as day to day.
Irving was hurt Tuesday in one of the final workouts before the team opens training camp. The injury came less than an hour before general manager Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson were scheduled to address the media, and Atkinson instead skipped the press conference to accompany Irving for evaluation.
Brooklyn opens training camp on Saturday.
Irving was signed in July after two seasons in Boston. He has had to wear a mask previously during games to protect a facial fracture, including early in the 2017-18 season after he was elbowed by former teammate Aron Baynes.