Boston Celtics All-Star Kyrie Irving is out tonight with a sore left knee, and the Celtics haven’t ruled out him missing additional time this week.
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“They’re just being precautious,” Irving told reporters prior to tonight’s game between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls.
Irving has been managing to play with varying levels of pain and discomfort this season. It’s not all that surprising when you consider Irving underwent surgery after suffering a fractured left kneecap injury during the 2015 NBA Finals.
With such injuries, even after a player heals and returns to action there’s a certain amount of maintenance needed, which is why Irving will miss a game or two from time to time.
“It’s been about two years coming off knee surgery,” Irving said. “You have to do things like that and just stay on top of it and make sure you’re doing the right things. Sometimes it may be a little extra, just from the demand that you put on your body. And then also, the realization of how much basketball you’ve been playing for the last few years. The level at which you demand your body to play at, it’s part of the game. That’s the luxury of being in the regular season, times where you can put yourself first and take care of yourself and go from there.”
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And while he wants to be back as soon as possible, Irving is in no rush to get back, mindful that the playoffs are around the corner.
“I want to make sure I’m as healthy as possible,” Irving said. “It’s at this point in the season it’s about the big picture. Just trying to stay smart and get out of my own way when it feels good, get back out there.”