Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving missed Friday's 122-109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers due to 'personal reasons' and is not expected to travel with the team to Memphis for their game Saturday, according to The Athletic's Joe Vardon.
Kyrie Irving is not expected to join the Nets on their flight to Memphis tonight, per a source. ‘He’s not coming’ is what I was told. BKN plays the Grizzlies Friday @TheAthleticNBA
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) January 8, 2021
The team confirmed the report shortly after their win at Barclays Center.
Kyrie Irving will not fly with the Nets to Memphis tonight, a team spokesperson says.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) January 8, 2021
“He texted us before the game, but that’s a personal issue for him," teammate Caris LeVert said post-game.
"We support him. He’s our brother. We went out there, and we competed without him. So, like I said, it was a personal issue for him.”
Their win over Philly came without Kevin Durant as well, with the forward sidelined due to mandatory contact tracing, per the NBA's health and safety protocols.
It's unclear how long Irving will remain out, with the Nets set to face the Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Monday.
Irving has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2020-21 season, averaging 27.1 points 6.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game, with the Nets currently holding a 5-4 record, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference.
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