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KD is likely to exit COVID-19 protocols this week.
Steve Nash gives an update on the returns of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The time is 0:25.
Steve Nash says that Kevin Durant will need between a week and two weeks to ramp up before he makes his season debut.
The Nets play the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night, but neither Irving nor Durant are with the team. The Nets could have LaMarcus Aldridge out of protocols and back with the team when they play Philadelphia on Thursday because the team returns to New York after the game.
"I think there's a good chance Kevin will be," Nash said after the team's shootaround about whether he will be with the team when it gets back home. I'm not sure, but it's coming. He's been in protocols since December 18. He needs to be getting close.
The Nets entered health and safety protocols. James Harden, James Johnson, Bruce Brown, DeAndre' Bembry, and Jevon Carter all played in the Nets' win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas.
On December 18th, Irving and KD went into protocols. The Nets announced that Irving would be coming back to the team on a part-time basis. Irving is not allowed to play in home games at the New York Knicks' Madison Square Garden or the New York Nets' Brooklyn Nets' home at the Barclays Center because of New York City's vaccine mandate.
Nash says it will take Irving time to get used to the team. The Nets haven't seen Irving on a court since they brought him back because he went into health and safety protocols.
Nash said that the ramp-up could take between a week and two weeks. "He's obviously been isolating so that kind of puts another layer to the ramp-up." It's not like he's been working out so I'd imagine it will be closer to two weeks once he comes out of the protocols. We have to evaluate him from a physical and performance standpoint, as well as a basketball standpoint.
The Nets only have two road games in their next nine games after Monday's game at the Clippers. They play at Indiana and Chicago in January.
The Nets could have Irving at Cleveland for the start of a four-game road swing if he doesn't play in those games.
Harden said on Saturday that having Irving back will be huge for the team.
"Hopefully we can get him back full-time," Nic said. It's definitely going to be scary with Irving back. I think he's going to make things easier for everyone on the court. I'm ready to get my brother back.
