Brooklyn Nets owner, Kevin Durant weigh in on Kyrie Irving's possible return / News - Basketnews.com

While Brooklyn Nets players expressed optimism that Kyrie Irving might return soon, owner Joe Tsai and coach Jacque Vaughn made it clear that any timetable is still unclear.

Credit: AFP – Scanpix Credit AFP – Scanpix

On October 27, Kyrie Irving posted multiple social media links to an anti-Semitic film, and stubbornly refused to apologize. It wasn't until Nets' owner Joe Tsai and the franchise stepped in on November 3 and suspended the All-Star guard that the player finally posted an apology on Instagram.

Brooklyn Nets / Schedule

Dallas Mavericks Brooklyn Nets96-94 Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks112-85 Los Angeles Clippers Brooklyn Nets95-110 Los Angeles Lakers Brooklyn NetsMon02:30 Sacramento Kings Brooklyn NetsWed03:00 Portland Trail Blazers Brooklyn NetsFri03:00

Now, Irving must meet the guidelines set by the Nets in order to return from the suspension, which the Nets said would be at least five games. Irving reached that five-game threshold Saturday, when the Nets played the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. He also will sit out Sunday against the Lakers - and for as long as it takes for him to complete a set of remedial tasks mandated by the Nets.

According to Joe Tsai, who was at the game with his family, that timetable will be as long it takes for Irving to show both remorse for his actions and some reflection on what he's said.

"Clara and I met with Kyrie and his family yesterday. We spent quality time to understand each other and it's clear to me that Kyrie does not have any beliefs of hate towards Jewish people or any group," Tsai tweeted on Friday.

One day later, the Nets' owner told the New York Post Irving "still has work to do."

"He has to show people that he's sorry," Tsai continued. "What’s important - and what people miss - is he only apologized after he was suspended."

Irving has been in contact with some teammates, but players and coaches remain unsure when he will return. According to ESPN, hecontinues to follow the steps the organization outlined as part of his return to the team. Those steps included meeting with Jewish leaders in the Brooklyn community and going through anti-hate counseling.

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant and his teammates still aren't sure when Kyrie Irving will return to the team, but Durant says he's been in communication with Irving recently and his spirits are "high."

Points this season

48%111,7Points made:111,7Accuracy:48,4%Place in standings:18Record max:128Record min:94Best scorer:Kevin DurantTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

"Looking forward to playing the game, you know Ky, he's a gamer, he loves to play," Durant said after Saturday's 110-95 win over the LA Clippers. "So hopefully all this stuff is over with, we can move past it and get him back on the floor soon."

Like many of his teammates, Durant still has no clue when Irving may return.

"That's been out of our control. And as players we try to lock in on the game, practices," Durant said. "So we just try to lock in and whenever that figures itself out, it will. That's over a lot of our heads right now so we just got to control what we can."

Nic Claxton added: "I have no idea. I just know he's not playing [Sunday], which is unfortunate. But whenever he gets back, we’ll get him back in the swing of things."

While players expressed optimism after practice Friday that Irving might return soon, Vaughn made it clear that any timetable is still unclear.

"I do not know. I do know he's not available [Sunday], I have been told that. So I can give you that," coach Jacque Vaughn said before he coached his second game since the Nets removed the interim label from his title and made him their head coach.

"The good thing is Joe put out that statement [Friday]. That shows where the collaboration or alignment is right now. I have no idea or timetable at all."

The Nets' subsequent game is Tuesday night in Sacramento and they will conclude their West Coast tour Thursday at Portland. The squad will return home to host the Grizzlies on November 20 at Barclays Center.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.