Ainge has ‘no problem’ with Kyrie Irving playing in NBA All-Star Game
From the NBA Newswire at 985TheSportsHub.com
When it comes to Kyrie Irving and Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, Celtics president of basketball ops Danny Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich something similar to what head coach Brad Stevens told Zolak & Bertrand. Kyrie’s going to need to get some work in before returning to game action, anyway.
Furthermore, Kyrie is going to be down in Charlotte for other events related to the All-Star break. And Ainge told T&R in his weekly interview on Thursday that he’ll have two members of the Celtics’ training staff by his side.
The way Ainge sees it, the All-Star Game is a glorified exhibition that’s not much different from a regular workout. And if Kyrie and the trainers feel he’s 100 percent, he doesn’t see much harm in Kyrie participating in Sunday’s game.
Nov 21, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts during the second half against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
“I totally trust both those guys with Kyrie,” said Ainge. “He’ll be looking for a gym. He’ll be doing basketball things in some of his free time. If they think that he can benefit from running up and down the court [in the All-Star Game] – because he has to do some progression before he gets back on the court for our game Thursday night – I don’t really have a problem.
“If everybody – including Kyrie [if he’s at] 100 percent, and the two guys that are with him from our staff – is 100 percent behind it, I have no problem with it.”
The inevitable questions will remain if Kyrie does plan to play in the All-Star Game. If he needs to get a workout in, why do it in the All-Star Game instead of just on the side in a regular gym? It sounds like Kyrie may end up doing both.
The Celtics are holding out hope that Kyrie avoids any setbacks in his recent knee strain, and can get back on the court for the Celtics at 100 percent when they return from the All-Star break next Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Listen above for the full interview with Danny Ainge!
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