Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, forward Kevin Durant, and big man LaMarcus Aldridge all exited the NBA's COVID-19 protocols Tuesday, the team announced.
Durant and Aldridge are immediately eligible to play in the Nets' next game when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. However, much like other players who cleared protocols after several days out, the two will likely test their conditioning before being confirmed to play.
However, the club will be unable to feature Irving due to New York City's vaccination mandate for local employees at indoor venues.
With several players ruled out due to injuries and health and safety protocols, Brooklyn announced on Dec. 17 that the organization invited Irving back to participate in practices and road games only. However, much of the Nets' upcoming schedule is at home. Irving will only be able to play in two of the team's next nine games: A trip to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 5, followed by a visit to the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 12.
