Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving will indeed undergo season-ending shoulder surgery after aggravating an injury that cost him almost two months of action earlier in the campaign. General manager Sean Marks said Irving will go under the knife and is not expected to return:
Sean Marks tells reporters in Philadelphia that Kyrie Irving will undergo shoulder surgery and is out for the season
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 20, 2020
Irving's Brooklyn debut has come to a screeching halt, and he will now watch the Nets attempt to hold onto a playoff spot from the bench alongside fellow injured star Kevin Durant.
The six-time All-Star finishes with averages of 27.4 points, 6.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 20 games. Irving shot nearly 40 percent from the three-point line and also posted a 26.3 player efficiency rating.
Brooklyn had struggled as a team with Kyrie on the floor, but Irving starred as the Nets won three of their last four when he was in in the lineup. Then, the shoulder flared up again.
Irving missed the last five games prior to the All-Star break before news surfaced suggesting he was still hampered by the shoulder. Kyrie avoided surgery earlier in the year, instead pacing himself and letting his body respond accordingly. Unfortunately, the Nets might be more upset they did not take the surgery route back in November.
Fortunately for Brooklyn, they entered the break with some momentum. The Nets have won four of their last five entering Thursday night's game in Philadelphia, including a win over the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 12 which snapped Toronto's 15-game winning streak.
Still, the Nets and head coach Kenny Atkinson will have to survive without Irving, who was starting to heat up at the right time before the shoulder interfered yet again.
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