Brooklyn Nets star player Kyrie Irving will not travel with the team on Friday night in their scheduled game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Kyrie Irving
(Photo : Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on December 30, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 145-141.

Kyrie Irving extends absence in the team

Brooklyn Nets point guard and star player Kyrie Irving has a strong start this season. He averages 27.1 points per game, 6.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds. They are one of the teams expected to get into the playoffs and a possible NBA Finals this season.

However, everyone was shocked when Kyrie Irving did not play on Thursday night in their match against the Philadelphia 76ers. Although the team won against Philadelphia in a score of 122-109, according to a published report in ESPN.

Sporting News reports that Kyrie Irving's decision not to play and plans not to play for their next scheduled game is due to personal reasons. KRON, a San Francisco television station, reported without citing the source that Irving sat out Thursday because of the violence that occurred at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

It can be remembered that hundreds of Trump supporters went to the capitol as the U.S. Congress was set to certify the Presidential election results. But a siege occurred in an attempt to stop the certification. This incident led to the death of four persons.

Read also: Who Are the Four Persons Who Died in the Capitol Siege?

Irving reached out to his team members

The Brooklyn Nets star player has been in contact with some of the members of the Nets organization. However, it is not clear what the message of Kyrie Irving was and none of the players also shared or gave comments about Irving's decision not to play.

Meanwhile, coach Steve Nash said before the game that he reached out to the star point guard. Nash said "I sent him a message in the last half-hour and haven't heard back yet. But obviously thinking about him and hope that all is well. It's a private matter."

ESPN's Malika Andrews and Adrian Wojnarowski also said after the team's game against the Philadelphia that Irving would not travel with the team to Memphis for its Friday night game vs. the Grizzlies. Wojnarowski also reported that his decision not to play in the next game is also for personal reasons.

Related story: James Harden Fined $50,000 for Violating NBA COVID-19 Protocols 

Other players who cannot play

Aside from Kyrie Irving, there are other players in the Brooklyn Nets who cannot also play in the next game. Forward Kevin Durant cannot play after he was exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus. He was also out during their match against the Sixers.

However, Coach Steve Nash said that if Kevin Durant will continue to test negative, he might be given a clearance to play in their game on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Additionally, Tyler Johnson cannot also play not because he tested positive for the virus but because he goes through contact tracing. Coach Nash clarified also that this is not related to Kevin Durant and so far Tyler Johnson did not test positive for COVID-19.