Another lengthy absence is up next for Kyrie Irving.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Thursday that the Brooklyn Nets’ star point guard “likely” needs to undergo a procedure on his right shoulder and will miss “an extended period of time.”
Irving missed 26 games earlier this season while dealing with a shoulder impingement and has appeared in just 20 of 53 games this season.
It’s been a frustrating start to life in Brooklyn for Irving, who along with Kevin Durant shocked the NBA world and joined the Nets over the summer at the start of free agency.
Durant will not appear in a game this season as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury suffered during the 2019 NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors.
Naturally, Irving has been the Nets’ best player when healthy and on the floor this season, averaging 27.4 points and 6.4 assists per game.
It hasn’t necessarily translated to more wins, however. When in the lineup, the Nets were 8-12 this season and 17-16 without him.
Spencer Dinwiddie will continue to assume the role as the Nets’ main offensive threat while Irving is gone. The 26-year-old is averaging a career-high 21 points and 6.6 assists in 2019-20.
