Kenny Atkinson said that Kyrie Irving was increasing his individual workload with a goal of returning to practice within the next couple weeks.

“I think the plan is to continue to ramp up his individual on-court work, and I think from there it’s starting to integrate him in the next week or two into team practices. Like I always say, that could be a planned practice or us making one up if the game schedule so dictates," said Atkinson.

Irving has been out since November 14th.

Atkinson added that the team needed to get Irving back into a contact setting.

“I think after the individual workout it’s a contact piece. But as far as the no-contact piece, that’s shooting, running, ballhandling, pretty much everything. It’s that contact piece. And obviously team practice. That simulates the most game-like contact situation.”