Good Chance that Kevin Durant Will Re-Join Nets This Week

The Chicago Bulls aren’t the only NBA team facing major issues with players being placed into COVID protocol. Many beloved Brooklyn Nets players won’t be making a return. The good news is that Kevin Durant might be back for the upcoming games.

The Brooklyn Nets announced on Friday that Kevin Durant and six other players have been ruled out for their Christmas road game against the Los Angeles Lakers in COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Kyrie Irving, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kessler Edwards, Day’Ron Sharpe, Cam Thomas and David Duke Jr. joined Durant in COVID-19 protocols. Brooklyn’s last three games were postponed amid the outbreak on the roster.

The Nets got James Harden back for Christmas. However, both KD and Kyrie Irving are still stuck in NBA health and safety protocols. Coach Steve Nash says Kyrie Irving will need between a week and two weeks to ramp up before making his season debut.

“I think there’s a good chance Kevin will be,” Nash said after the team’s shootaround about whether Durant will be back with the team when it gets back home.  “With Kyrie, I’m not so sure, but it’s coming. He’s already been [in protocols since Dec. 18]. … He’s got to be getting close.” Because of New York City’s vaccine mandate, Irving is not allowed to play in home games at Barclays Center or at Madison Square Garden.

The Nets will play the Clippers on Monday night. The team returns home after the game to play Philadelphia 76ers. There’s a good chance they could have Durant and center LaMarcus Aldridge out of protocols and back with the team when they play Philadelphia at Barclays Center stadium on Thursday.

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