The Nets have recalled their All-Star guard from the wilderness for road games this season, having initially banned him because he refused to get vaccinated.
The Nets are top of the Eastern Conference standings but a spate of injuries and players lost to Covid health protocols – allied with the heavy workload on MVP contender Kevin Durant – mean they are in dire need of reinforcement.
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The Nets’ solution is to cancel the exile imposed on vaccine refusenik Irving back in October, when he was deemed persona non grata even though he could still have been available for most road games and could even have trained with the team.
Once he clears Covid protocols, Irving will now rejoin the Nets, ready to get up to speed for the remainder of the season.
The 29-year-old will be eligible for all road games, with the exception of Toronto and cross-city meetings with the New York Knicks, both because of Covid rules.