Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets watches the action between the Wagner Seahawks and the Seton Hall Pirates during the game at Prudential Center on December 1, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall defeated Wagner 85-63. Rich Schultz/Getty Images/AFP
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving plans to make his season debut Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, The Athletic reported Monday.
Unvaccinated, Irving is rejoining the team on a part-time basis in a complicated scheduling web that involves state protocol.
Unable to take part in home games due to New York’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates, the 29-year-old is expected to compete in most road contests — except against the New York Knicks and also the Toronto Raptors, due to Ontario regulations.
Led by NBA scoring leader and MVP favorite Kevin Durant, the Nets have held their own without Irving. They take the second-best record (23-11) in the Eastern Conference into Monday night’s game against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.
Irving, a seven-time All-Star, played in 54 regular-season games for the Nets last season and averaged 26.9 points, 6.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds.
In 582 career games (all starts) with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2011-17), Boston Celtics (2017-19) and Nets, he has averages of 22.8 points, 5.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds.