Kyrie Irving’s suspension will last longer than five games, as the Nets announced the star guard will not play Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn announced Irving would not play Sunday and had no other update beyond that before the team's game Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Irving’s unpaid suspension was for a period of "no less than five games" and Sunday will be his sixth game out of action.
SNY's Ian Begley reported Friday that Irving had a "very positive" meeting with Nets owners Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai and a person involved in the conversations between Irving, the NBA, and NBPA said there was "solid momentum" toward a return to the court.
“He still has work to do,” Tsai told The New York Post during Saturday's game. “He has to show people that he’s sorry,” Tsai said. “What’s important — and what people miss — is he only apologized after he was suspended.”
Irving had to complete several steps before his suspension was ended, including antisemitism training and meeting with Jewish leaders. It is unknown where he is in that process.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday there is "skepticism" that Irving will return before Tuesday's game at the Sacramento Kings. And it is possible Irving's return to the court may not come until the end of the Nets’ four-game West Coast road trip. Which could see Irving miss a total of eight games if he is still out Thursday night in Portland. The Nets return home Sunday, Nov. 20 when they host the Memphis Grizzlies.
Irving, who was suspended by the Nets after he failed to unequivocally apologize for posting a link to an antisemitic video and failed to say he was not antisemitic, has not played since a Nov. 1 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
