The status of Kyrie Irving‘s knee injury appears to have gotten a bit more complicated.
Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the Boston Celtics guard will seek a second opinion for his left knee in an effort to see whether Irving will need to pursue any options beyond resting and letting things heal naturally.
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge spoke about Irving’s knee injury last week, and though it’s been known that surgery is eventually needed, it didn’t sound like that was something that needed to happen any time soon. But now, with the pain still lingering and keeping him off the court, that might have changed.
With lack of progress on his ailing left knee, Celtics All-Star Kyrie Irving plans to travel for a second opinion later this week, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 20, 2018
Tuesday marked the fourth straight game Irving has missed due to knee soreness. The injury stems from a surgery he had before the 2015 season that helped repair a fractured kneecap.
The threat of eventually needing to undergo another surgery was reportedly something that could have forced a Cavaliers trade of Irving over the summer, thought it never appeared to come to that. Now, it might put Irving’s status for the rest of the regular season, and maybe beyond, in jeopardy, although no one will know for sure until Irving sits down and gets his knee looked at by a professional.
Cavaliers coach Brad Stevens confirmed that Irving was seeking a second opinion on Thursday evening.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens confirms that All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving will seek a second opinion due to the lingering soreness in his left knee that has bothered Irving throughout the month.
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) March 20, 2018
Later, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that there was “no structural damage” in Irving’s knee and that the team still believes rest is the best solution to his inflammation.
There remains no structural damage in Irving's sore left knee, league sources tell ESPN. Belief is still rest is the best remedy for his eventual return. https://t.co/8iMGkb9OHT
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 20, 2018
Perhaps that last bit of news can temper some worries Celtics fans have about Irving’s availability in the long-term, but it’s tough to say what will happen. If any kind of surgery does take place, he would certainly have some company rehabbing. Gordon Hayward and now Marcus Smart are both working to get back for the team this season, and if Irving goes under the Knife he’d join them on that list.
