Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson has no update on when superstar point guard Kyrie Irving will return from his shoulder injury.
Irving will miss his fourth consecutive game on Friday when the Nets host the Sacramento Kings:
Kenny Atkinson on when Kyrie Irving might return to the lineup:
"There's no update…I think he's concerned about one thing: getting back to being as close to 100% as possible" pic.twitter.com/94adldrrwj
— SNY (@SNYtv) November 22, 2019
The Nets are 6-8 on the season, which is good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.
On the season, Irving is averaging 28.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from beyond the arc and 93.7 percent from the free-throw line. Brooklyn is 4-7 when Irving plays.
Atkinson said earlier this week he doesn't believe Irving's shoulder injury will be a long-term issue:
“I don't think it's a long-term thing, but I wouldn't say we're being overcautious, Atkinson said. “I think he has a situation that's prevented him from playing. And like I said before, this is kind of like a collaborative thing — we've talked about it, but this is the best course of action.
“Do I think it's like a long-term thing? Like I said, no. I don't think he could play through it right now, quite honestly … Like I keep saying, the shoulder's just a sensitive (injury) — especially for a point guard, right? It's like a quarterback — the way he shoots it, passing, the whole thing. I think he's working through it right now. And we've got to work through not having him, quite honestly.”
There is no timetable for Irving's return and Brooklyn will continue to be cautious with Uncle Drew.
