Kenny says report on Kyrie’s injury isn’t accurate
The report that Kyrie Irving will miss another 2-to-3 weeks with bursitis is incorrect, according to Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, but there is no further update about the star’s mysterious shoulder injury other than the Nets are not yet contemplating surgery.
“I think we’re still in the rehab process,” Atkinson said. “I don’t think we’re there (where we’re considering surgery).”
Irving missed his 19th consecutive game Thursday with what the Nets are calling a “shoulder impingement.” They have not provided a recovery timetable and Irving has not spoken publicly since his last game on Nov. 14.
Irving is actually suffering from “thoracic bursitis” and he’s out until at least Jan. 7 against the Thunder, according to Heavy.com. But Aktinson pushed back before Brooklyn hosted the Knicks
on Thursday.
“What you’re telling me — whatever that report said is not true,” the coach said. “We’re still in the same place the last time I talked. Like I said, the thing is we haven’t gotten to the contact with him. We’re on-court workout situation but the contact just hasn’t been cleared yet. I think that’s the next hurdle. I wish I could tell you when that is. Hopefully sooner rather than later.”
When Irving first got the injury, the sense was that it would be a short-term absence. Forty-two days later, Atkinson agreed that was also his belief.
“From my personal opinion, yes. I’d have to go in there and get a deeper report. But I do think these shoulders can be tricky man. That’s where I am,” Atkinson said. “I think we’ve all been there. I’ve had one. It’s just tricky and you need it to feel right. So I kind of understand what’s happened here. Like I said, I’m really hoping he’s back sooner than later.”
The Nets are infamously tight-lipped about injuries and don’t provide public recovery timetables. That’s a particularly frustrating stance in a sport where fans often purchase tickets to see one special player. Irving can be on that level of mustsee superstar, but the Nets have also played better without him.
Moreover, the NBA’s embrace of legalized gambling should prompt the league to push its teams to be more transparent about its injuries. The Nets send out updates like they’re state secrets.
At least with Irving’s injury, he can maintain his cardio workouts and stay in shape.
“That’s a good thing. That upper extremity,” Atkinson said. “He hasn’t put on 25 pounds like me and you would have in a situation like that.”
BACK IN
Marcus Morris returned for the Knicks on Thursday following a one-game absence because of a sore Achilles. The Knicks’ leading scorer was back in the starting lineup.
The team is 0-3 when he doesn’t play.
“I think Marcus has had a great year,” Knicks interim coach Mike Miller said. “You look past the numbers, just his approach to the whole thing, how he sees the game and how he helps other players. I think the mark of the highlevel players is they make the other players better. I think that’s really what he’s done. Although he has put up numbers and had a great year himself, he’s really helped the other guys.”
While Morris returned, Dennis Smith Jr. was inactive because of a strained oblique. Smith has had a very difficult season and another injury adds to it.