Duke basketball star hit with another harsh penalty ahead of return

Another harsh penalty was handed down to a Duke basketball standout ahead of his return to the court.

Kyrie Irving is now “excited” to return to the Brooklyn Nets, according to general manager Sean Marks.

Irving has now been away from the team for over a week due to ‘personal reasons’ but was spotted at a birthday party for his father and sister, maskless, in the midst of his absence.

However, following the blockbuster trade that sent Houston Rockets star James Harden to Brooklyn, the former Blue Devil is eager to get back to the franchise.

Despite his desire to return to the team, the NBA investigated the party that Kyrie Irving attended and determined that he broke the league’s health and safety protocols, resulting in quarantine and a $50K fine.

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According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the former No. 1 overall pick had already entered his quarantine and has consistently tested negative for COVID-19 and will be eligible to return to the team on Saturday if he continues to test negative.

As Kyrie Irving was not with the team, the six-time All-Star was still receiving his full pay for each game he did not play in until he entered his quarantine. He has now forfeited two of those game checks and will continue to not be paid for each game he misses because of quarantine, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Irving will have forfeited $816,898 for his two missed games because of quarantine.

Not the first time the Duke basketball product has been disciplined this season

Prior to the start of the season, the NBA had fined Kyrie Irving $25K for violating the league’s media rules and regulations by releasing a statement instead of holding a press conference ahead of the start of the season.

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Through seven games, Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 50.4-percent from the field and 42.6-percent from 3-point range.

Kyrie Irving has not played with the Brooklyn Nets since January 5, but the newly formed ‘Big 3’ of Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden could all be on the floor for the Nets’ next game on Saturday, January 16 at 6:00pm EST against the Orlando Magic.