Kyrie Irving has officially made his season debut after dropping 22 points in 32 minutes of action in Wednesday night's win over the Pacers, and he can't think of a debut that would top this one after nearly eight months away from basketball.
"I've had a lot of debuts, but nothing comes close to this one," Irving said. "It meant a little bit more, just because at this stage, being out of the game for eight months and coming back in, there's so much uncertainty…what's the game flow going to be? You just don't have any idea.
"Just a lot of gratitude to be playing tonight with everyone, and just to go out and have fun doing what we love to do."
For Irving, his return to game action will be followed by two straight games off, as the Nets return to Brooklyn before hitting the road again.
Irving, still unvaccinated, is not eligible to play in New York City, and his role with the team will continue to be in a part-time capacity unless he elects to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Asked if the rush of being back on the floor may change his decision on getting vaccinated to be able to return in a full-time role, Irving didn't indicate that such a change in mindset would come in the near future.
"I'm just taking it one day at a time," Irving said. "Like I said earlier in the season, it's not an ideal situation, and I'm always praying things will be figured out and we're able to come to some collective agreement, whether it be with the league or just things going on that can help ease what we're all dealing with, with COVID and the vaccine."
The ruling for Irving to be able to play home games would have to come from the City, but for now, Irving is ineligible to play in New York and Toronto, so after eight months away from the game, he will have to sit out another five days before Brooklyn heads to Portland on Jan. 10. Irving says he holds no resentment for the rules being the way they are, but it doesn't mean he is ready to make a decision to adhere to those rules.
"I don't want to make it simply about me and simply about someone lessening the rules for me," Irving said. "I know what the consequences were, I still know what they are. But right now I'm just going to take it one day at a time and just enjoy this time that I get to play with my guys. However it looks later in the season, then we'll address it then."
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