The first reports were tweeted out early Wednesday by Brian Windhorst of ESPN — Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving was seen walking around Rio in Brazil (where the Cavs are for a preseason game) in a walking boot.
That’s not good, although NBA teams now use the walking boot on just about any grade of ankle or foot injury. As a precaution.
And that’s what it turned out to be — mostly precautionary. X-rays were negative, there was no serious damage, then Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer caught up with Irving.
#Cavs guard Kyrie Irving sprained his right ankle in practice. He's wearing a boot for precautionary measures. Says it's not serious.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 8, 2014
It’s preseason, there is no reason at all to have Irving push through this. In the least. Even if it’s the regular season you want to be cautious — once the ligaments in an ankle are stretched during a sprain it’s easier to re-sprain the ankle. They need to let it fully heal.
Although for Irving it’s got to suck dragging a leg in a walking boot around Rio. That’s not going to look cool on Copacabana beach.