Duke basketball: Kyrie Irving takes another leave of absence from Nets

Duke basketball star Kyrie Irving is in the midst of another personal leave from the Brooklyn Nets. 

For the second time this season, former Duke basketball standout guard Kyrie Irving is taking a personal leave of absence from the Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets began a three-game road trip with a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, and Irving will miss this entire slate of games, including a heavyweight matchup with the Utah Jazz and a game against the Detroit Pistons.

Irving has now taken two leaves of absence from the team this season, but this departure from the NBA Finals favorites has been cleared and approved by the team, unlike his first two-week absence.

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Brooklyn announced that Irving is attending to a family matter, the same reasoning provided for the first absence.

During his first absence, the NBA deemed that the former Blue Devil violated the league’s health and safety protocols, which resulted in his second fine of the season and an extended absence from the team.

A video surfaced of Irving attending a maskless birthday party of a family member during his first absence.

Kyrie Irving celebrated his 29th birthday on March 23.

Duke basketball standout one of several injured Nets

The seven-time NBA All-Star has played in 31 of 44 games for the Brooklyn Nets and is averaging 28.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists this season while shooting 52.0-percent from the floor and 40.6-percent from 3-point range despite having to manage a few injuries.

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Brooklyn has also been playing without NBA All-Star Kevin Durant, who is still battling a hamstring injury, while James Harden continues to play despite battling through a sore neck.

The Nets appear to be the frontrunners for former Duke superstar JJ Redick if he is bought out from the New Orleans Pelicans as Brooklyn just signed former Detroit Pistons standout Blake Griffin after his contract was also bought out.