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Kyrie Irving’s long-awaited season debut is here. Nearly three months into the Nets’ campaign, they will welcome back their confounding point guard, who still has not been vaccinated, because they had no choice: The team was so thoroughly ravaged by COVID-19 they needed bodies.
Wait. That isn’t right. Irving likely will suit up today in Indiana alongside Kevin Durant, James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Patty Mills. Blake Griffin, Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton, DeAndre’ Bembry, Bruce Brown, Paul Millsap and the whole crew will be there. With the exception of Joe Harris, sidelined by surgery, the Nets are healthy.
So, uh, why again did Brooklyn cave and allow its third superstar to return?