NBA insider offers prediction on Kyrie Irving's return date

“The only place Kyrie Irving, if he doesn’t go and get vaccinated, the only place he can’t play is New York City,” said Charania.

“So those games at the Garden and Barclays Center … I’d look at January 5th [against the Indiana Pacers] or January 12th [against the Chicago Bulls] as a possible return date for him.”

Not everyone is happy about the Nets’ decision to allow Irving to return on a part-time basis. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith went off on the organization for the move just this week.

“I think it’s a horrible move,” he said. “I think it’s a disgraceful move. I think that Nets ownership is incredibly disappointing, and I think that the league should intervene.”

The league, by all accounts, will not intervene. Irving has lost a lot of money over his decision to sit out. His relationship with the Nets’ front office worsened significantly. And his friendship with Kevin Durant has also become more fraught.

That said, come January – he is going to have the opportunity to make things right.

If Irving ultimately guides the Nets to a championship, nobody will remember all the early season headaches he caused.