Kyrie breaks silence, says he 'respected' Nets' choice to sideline him

Kyrie Irving harbors no ill will toward the Brooklyn Nets' brass after they kept him away from the club rather than allow him to perform as a part-time player, a choice the franchise controversially backtracked on earlier this month.

"I understood their decision, and I respected it," the star guard told reporters Wednesday, courtesy of the New York Post's Brian Lewis. "I really had to sit back and try not to become too emotionally attached to what they were deciding to do. I had to sit down and really evaluate things and see it from their perspective."

Irving's remarks were his first in a formal team setting since his virtual media day appearance in September. The 29-year-old has been unable to play at home due to New York City's vaccination mandate.

While the league has always permitted Irving to make road appearances, Nets general manager Sean Marks instead expelled him from the squad before the start of the regular season in October, saying he would not welcome the former No. 1 pick back until he can be a "full-time member."

But on Dec. 17, Brooklyn reversed course and invited Irving back to play in road contests amid increasing absences on the roster due to injuries and several players entering COVID-19 protocols.

"I knew the consequences," Irving said Wednesday of his decision to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Daily News' Kristian Winfield. "I wasn't prepared for them by any stretch of the imagination."

Irving entered protocols himself after rejoining the Nets, pushing his potential campaign debut back. The team's next three games are at home, meaning the earliest Irving can play is when Brooklyn visits the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 5.

Head coach Steve Nash wants to avoid pushing the seven-time All-Star into action too soon.

"I don't think it's smart to rush him into games," Nash said, according to Winfield. "There's only 50 games left. It's when he's ready. If he's ready for Indiana, great. If he's not, we push it to the next one."