Kyrie Irving’s absence from the Brooklyn Nets has cost him nearly $1 million.
The NBA fined the point guard $50,000 for violating its health and safety protocols and said he could return to team activities Saturday, Januray 16.
The league added that he would forfeit his salary for each game he misses during a five-day quarantine period that would end Saturday if he continues to test negative for the coronavirus. He’s already missed two, which means he has lost more than $900,000 of his $33.5 million salary.
Irving has missed the last five games while away from the Nets for personal reasons. He was seen in a video on social media during his absence at an indoor family party while not wearing a mask.
The league’s protocols prohibit attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments.
Irving is the second player to be fined for that. The other is his new teammate, James Harden.
The Nets have not explained the reasons for Irving’s absence, leaving it to him to do when he returns.
In December, Irving was fined $25,000 by the NBA for not speaking to the media during the preseason.