Kyrie Irving Says He Thinks About Lack of Playing Time with Harden, Durant 'Daily'

Not being able to play together consistently has taken a toll on the Brooklyn Nets' trio of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden.    

Speaking to reporters after Tuesday's 121-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Irving said all three of them think about how little they have played together "daily" since becoming teammates last season:

The Nets acquired Harden from the Houston Rockets as part of a four-team deal on Jan. 14, 2021. Since that time, Brooklyn's three superstars have played 16 out of a possible 120 games together (including the postseason).

Only two of those games have come this season, most recently on Jan. 12 against the Chicago Bulls.

Irving has been unable to play home games this season because of vaccine mandates in New York City, and the seven-time All-Star has been adamant he won't receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Durant missed 37 games during the 2020-21 regular season because of injuries and health and safety protocols, and he is currently out of action with a sprained MCL suffered in a Jan. 15 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Harden has had the most playing time among the Nets' superstar trio, playing in 79 out of 112 regular-season games over the past two seasons.

Brooklyn's playoff run last season was disrupted because Harden missed three games against the Milwaukee Bucks with a hamstring injury and Irving sprained his ankle in Game 5 of the series.

The Nets are 13-3 when Irving, Harden and Durant play together. They are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference at 29-21.

Irving is still able to play well despite being a part-time player at this point, averaging 24.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game in just nine games.