Kyrie Irving did not suit up in the Brooklyn Nets' duel against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday due to lower back tightness. While this alarmed Nets fans, coach Steve Nash believes there shouldn't be any cause of concern.
Per Malika Andrews of ESPN, Nash believes that Irving won't be out for long. He added that the prolific guard received some treatment during Monday's game against the Sacramento Kings.
Steve Nash said he doesn't believe Kyrie Irving's lower back tightness will hold him out long term. Nash said Irving's back was bothering him yesterday against the Kings and he got treatment on his lower back at halftime.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) February 17, 2021
This marked Irving's 10th missed game of the season. To recall, the six-time All-Star cited “personal reasons” for his series of absences last month.
This attracted a slew of criticisms from analysts and fans alike, pointing out that Irving does not have the right to simply sit out for reasons only known to him. Others went further by saying that the enigmatic playmaker should either be traded or just retire. Things got worse for Irving when he was seen partying with family members without a mask on, breaking COVID-19 protocols. The NBA had no choice but to fine Irving and force him to miss more games to undergo quarantine.
But for the past few weeks, controversies hounding Irving seemed to have subsided as the star-studded Nets have been performing well. They are coming off a three-game winning streak, including a blowout of the Golden State Warriors last Saturday, prior to facing the Suns.
Kyrie Irving, who's averaging 28.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, is clearly an integral part of the Nets and he will have to remain healthy for them to contend, especially since they heavily rely on their star power.
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