SEAN MARKS

Kyrie Irving may have to show the Brooklyn Nets he’s more than a great basketball player if he wants a future with the team.

Kevin Durant’s return couldn’t stop the Brooklyn Nets’ slide, as Bam Adebayo had 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lead the Miami Heat to a 113-107 victory.

The Brooklyn Nets no longer needed to wait for Kevin Durant to get healthy, or for Kyrie Irving to get vaccinated, or for James Harden to make a decision about free agency.

Kyrie Irving’s return to the Brooklyn Nets is starting with a trip to the NBA’s health and safety protocols — and Kevin Durant is joining him.

Irving had been benched since the start of the season because he did not get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Kyrie Irving will rejoin the Brooklyn Nets to play in road games.

Speaking on Instagram Live, Irving said he loved basketball and wasn't going to retire.

Kyrie Irving says he doesn'tt want to lose salary or a chance to compete for a championship with the Brooklyn Nets, but was doing “what’s best for me” by refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

A California judge has partially blocked an order taking effect this week requires state prison employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Brooklyn's all-star guard has made a "personal choice" that makes him ineligible to play, general manager Sean Marks said Tuesday.

The team's general manager said, "We will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability,"

The team's general manager said, "We will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability,"

Kyrie Irving can keep refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Brooklyn Nets no longer seem so sure they will have their whole team together for home games when the season opens.

Brooklyn's James Harden has committed to playing for U.S. men's national basketball team that will play in the Olympics that begin next month, says a person familiar with the situation.

The NBA on Friday fined Kyrie Irving $50,000 for violating the league's health and safety protocols after a viral video showed the Brooklyn Nets star at a private indoor party without a mask on. Irving, 28, is also required to forfeit his salary for games he missed during a five-day quarantine period. Irving has missed five consecutive games for personal reasons but has not publicly addressed his absences. Earlier this week, Nets General Manager Sean Marks said the organization is "disappointed" that Irving hasn't been with the team but said Irving is "excited" about returning to the basketball court. According to ESPN, Irving will forfeit $816,898 for the two games he missed this week, which fell into his quarantine period.

Utah Jazz's Derrick Favors (15) defens Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving's absence from the Brooklyn Nets has become a costly one. The NBA fined the point guard $50,000 on Friday for violating its health and safety protocols, and said he could return to team activities Saturday — though he won't play in the Nets' game that night. Their next game is Saturday against Orlando, though they ruled him out, listing health and safety protocols on the injury report. In December, Irving was was fined $25,000 by the NBA for not speaking to the media during preseason.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Houston. But only the commitment from the three players will allow the Nets to fully utilize it and Marks is confident he secured that from his own players and from Harden. “I think he’s looking for a fresh start and I think these guys are going to have to sacrifice without a doubt,” Marks said. The Nets will have to fill out a roster that has holes, though Marks said he won't rush that. If they do, the Nets might meet the expectations that Marks said he won't run from.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK – Kevin Durant had 34 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds, Bruce Brown made a huge contribution while starting for the absent Kyrie Irving, and the Brooklyn Nets rallied from 18 down to beat the Denver Nuggets 122-116 on Tuesday night. Durant followed with Brooklyn's next six points, including a 3-pointer that essentially put it away at 120-113 with 27 seconds to play. They want to come out and compete, and everybody came with it tonight, especially in the second half,” Durant said. Nets: Before the game, coach Steve Nash wasn't sure if Durant would play Wednesday at New York. “We have to judge these things day to day and moment to moment.” Durant said afterward he planned to play.

FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2018, file photo, Steve Nash speaks during induction ceremonies at the Basketball Hall of Fame, in Springfield, Mass. The Brooklyn Nets hired Steve Nash as their coach Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, putting the Hall of Fame point guard in charge of the team that hopes to have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving together next season. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)NEW YORK Steve Nash was a leader, a guy who loved to get the best out of his teammates on the court and build relationships with them off it. And Nash, having played against Durant and Irving and becoming friends with both, is eager to impart his smarts on a roster that has plenty of skills. We have a roster that is very wealthy, and I mean that from a basketball standpoint, Nash said.

FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2018, file photo, Steve Nash speaks during induction ceremonies at the Basketball Hall of Fame, in Springfield, Mass. The Brooklyn Nets hired Steve Nash as their coach Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, putting the Hall of Fame point guard in charge of the team that hopes to have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving together next season. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)The Brooklyn Nets hired Steve Nash as their coach Thursday, putting the Hall of Fame point guard in charge of the team that hopes to have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving together next season. The Nets finished the season under Jacque Vaughn, who they said would remain on staff as Nash's lead assistant. In Steve we see a leader, communicator and mentor who will garner the respect of our players," Marks said.

Spencer Dinwiddie is a maybe, with his status unclear after both he and Jordan tested positive for the coronavirus. The Brooklyn Nets don't look ready for a restart, but general manager Sean Marks said Wednesday there was no discussion of the team not traveling to Florida for the resumption of the NBA season. Vaughn had moved Jordan into the starting lineup, but now the job apparently goes back to Jarrett Allen. They eventually decided it was best to first come back to Brooklyn, and both Dinwiddie and Jordan tested positive after returning. He sent his family to Phoenix when the virus struck New York, only to find that Arizona's cases are now rising.