Durant, Irving to NBA Health and Safety Protocols for COVID-19

The bad news continues to emerge for the Brooklyn Nets, who now add nine of their players to the NBA's health and safety protocols after stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving tested positive for COVID-19.

Durant and Irving join a list that already included Paul Millsap this week, who entered the protocols on Monday, followed by LaMarcus Aldridge, James Johnson, DeAndre' Bembry and Jevon Carter on Tuesday morning. They were joined by James Harden and Bruce Brown on Tuesday night.

Irving must wait to reappear with Nets

This news comes just one day after the Nets announced that Irving will rejoin the team in a part-time role, as the star has decided not to get vaccinated.

Irving can only play in Brooklyn's away games due to New York City's vaccine mandate, plus he can't join right away, which would make the Nets without their best players for at least another week.

The Nets have 24 such away games remaining on the regular-season schedule, but Irving must first have negative COVID tests on five consecutive days before he can return to the team.

The Durant-Harden-Irving trio has yet to play together this season

This is the second time Durant has been in the league's protocols for COVID-19. The first time he tested positive in March 2020, during a season in which he did not play while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The superstar trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Irving have not been able to be on the court together for the 2021-22 NBA season, and now all three are in health and safety protocols.

This is the second time Durant has been in the league's protocols for COVID-19. The first time he tested positive in March 2020, during a season in which he did not play while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Players must test negative for consecutive tests to be back with the team or be isolated for a minimum of 10 days if they are vaccinated or have no symptoms.

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