Kyrie Irving Return: Nets’ Star To Make 2022 Debut, Upcoming Road Schedule

Kyrie Irving will soon end his seven-month absence from the NBA. The All-Star is expected to make his season debut for the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in a matchup with the Indiana Pacers.

Nets head coach Steve Nash told reporters Monday that Irving should play in Indiana if he doesn’t suffer a setback. Brooklyn announced on Dec. 17 that it would allow Irving to play in away games after he missed the first two months of the 2021-22 season.

Just prior to the start of the regular season, the Nets decided that Irving would not be part of the team at all since he was unvaccinated against COVID-19 and not eligible to play in home games because of New York City’s vaccine mandates. Citing players missing games due to injuries and health and safety protocols, the Nets reversed course.

Irving is still not eligible to play in Brooklyn’s home games at Barclays Center. The Nets have 22 home games and 25 road games left on the regular-season schedule.

After visiting Indiana, the Nets return to Brooklyn for a two-game homestand. He won’t be eligible to play again until the team visits the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

The Nets visit the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 12 before playing two consecutive home games. Irving can get his first extended playing time from Jan. 17 to Jan. 23 when the Nets play the Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves during a four-game road trip.

Brooklyn will have a five-game West Coast road trip from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6. The Nets will face the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz during that stretch.

Golden State, Phoenix, Utah and Chicago are the only NBA teams with a better record than Brooklyn through 35 games. With a 23-12 record, the Nets are still considered to be the overwhelming favorites to win the 2022 NBA Finals.

Kevin Durant is the league’s leading scorer with 29.7 points per game. Following a sluggish start to the season, James Harden averaged 26.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 11.1 assists in eight December games.

Irving averaged 26.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6 assists per game for the Nets last season.