Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $50,000 for violating the league’s health and safety protocols and ordered to take part in a five-day quarantine, NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell announced Friday.
Irving would be allowed to return to team activities Saturday if he continues to test negative for COVID-19, and sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Irving is expected to play in Saturday’s game against the Orlando Magic.
Irving has been away from the team for its past five games for personal reasons. The Nets have not divulged details about Irving’s absence, but general manager Sean Marks said Thursday that the guard has said he is looking forward to returning to the team.
According to a release from the NBA, Irving violated the protocols by attending a private indoor party last weekend. The release noted league rules against “attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments.”
Irving will forfeit $816,898 in salary for the two games he missed this week due to his quarantine, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Irving’s new teammate, James Harden, was fined $50,000 in December for a violation of the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols after the league reviewed video of him socializing maskless at a club.
