Nets’ coach Kenny Atkinson did not attend the team’s media day on Tuesday, but he had a good reason:
He had gone to the hospital with Kyrie Irving, who had taken an elbow to the head during a pickup game at the team’s facility. It was serious enough that the Nets decided to get things checked out.
Kyrie Irving was hit with an elbow at practice and had to go to the doctor. He was accompanied by coach Kenny Atkinson.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) September 24, 2019
However, it apparently is not that serious.
Just saw Kenny Atkinson who told us @KyrieIrving is “okay.” Atkinson accompanied Irving for a checkup after taking an elbow to the head in a scrimmage.
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) September 24, 2019
Hopefully, this really is nothing.
After a season where Irving did not connect (to put it very kindly) with a good young core of players in Boston, the pressure is on him to show something different in Brooklyn this season with Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie, and others. The Nets, a playoff team in the East a year ago, should be better this season with Irving. Should. And while the team says Kevin Durant will not play this season, if that changes some time after the All-Star break, the Nets become a potential threat to 76ers and Bucks on top of the East.
But to get there, Irving has to do more than just put up numbers. Team GM Sean Marks is confident he will.
“We’ve seen Kyrie’s leadership already on the court.”
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) September 24, 2019