NBA fines Kyrie Irving $50K for health and safety violations

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $50K by the NBA for COVID-19 protocol violations. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

NBA fines Nets' Kyrie Irving $50K for health and safety violations

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 1/15/21

Kyrie Irving has made it abundantly clear in the past that he doesn't care about being fined by the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets star further proved that by recently attending a large family gathering, without a mask, for his sister's 30th birthday amid his ongoing absence from the franchise.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Irving has been fined $50,000 for violating the NBA's health and safety protocols as a result.

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for violating health and safety protocols when he attended a private indoor party last weekend.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 15, 2021

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier this week that the NBA was investigating the incident. He also stated that Irving was not expected to return to the Nets' lineup anytime soon.

Before the season began, Brooklyn was the favorite to win the Eastern Conference with a healthy Irving and Kevin Durant. So far, Irving's off-court antics have put a halt to the team's success. Brooklyn currently is sixth in the conference with a 7-6 record.

At this point, it's unclear if the six-time All-Star even wants to keep playing this season. If he doesn't, it would be a huge loss for the Nets. Irving has been stellar in seven games this season, averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 42.6% from deep.

Irving was also fined $25,000 earlier this season for violating the league's media access rules when he issued a statement saying he wouldn't speak to reporters for the entire year.

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