Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is considering treatment options on his right shoulder impingement, including the possibility of surgery. Irving is expected to reach a decision in the next few days, per sources. Irving missed 26 consecutive games earlier this season with the right shoulder impingement. He said that the pain started during the Nets’ Nov. 4 game against the Pelicans. On Tuesday, Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson said Irving continued to struggle with shoulder discomfort after returning from his extended absence, which stretched from mid-November to mid-January. Irving saw an Arizona-based specialist in December and received cortisone shot on Dec. 24. Irving said at the time that he hoped the cortisone would eliminate an immediate need for surgery.
“You either continue to get cortisone shots, which are obviously detrimental to your health and your muscles, or you go get arthroscopic surgery,” Irving said in December. “For me, it’s just about being able to go back out there after the right amount of rehab, the right amount of rest and recovery and see what we can do for the rest of the season and then reevaluate after a few months.” Irving also missed one game for hamstring tightness, one game after Kobe Bryant’s death, and the five games before the All-Star break with a sprained knee. Despite Kevin Durant being out all season and Irving being injured, Brooklyn is 7th in the East. The Nets hold a 2 game lead over Orlando as the second half of the season begin.
Can the Nets make the playoffs if Irving elects to have shoulder surgery? Should Irving elect to have the surgery to be ready for next season? What should Kyrie Irving do about his lingering shoulder injury?