Kyrie Irving spoke to the media on Wednesday for the first time since returning to the Brooklyn Nets after his extended absence over his vaccine status.

Irving is excited to return to the Nets, but did not signal a willingness to be vaccinated. 

“I knew the consequences," said Irving of not being vaccinated. "I wasn’t prepared for them, by no stretch of the imagination. “Coming into the season, I had my thought process of being able to be a full-time teammate and just go out and have fun and provide a great brand of basketball out there. But unfortunately, it didn’t happen like that.

“Things happen for a reason, and now we’re here and I’m just grateful for this.”

Irving will only be allowed to play in road games. 

Irving said he has been working out in middle-school and college gyms over the past few months.