Kyrie Irving Out For the Season

Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the season as a result of left knee surgery, the Boston Celtics announced.

The All-Star point guard will have another procedure on his left knee on Saturday. The procedure will remove two screws that were inserted into his patella in 2015 after his NBA finals fracture.

The Celtics said that a bacterial infection had appeared around the screws after his most recent surgery, on March 24. His last surgery removed a tension wire that was inserted into his knee at the same time as the screws.

The team said that Kyrie Irving is expected to recover in 4-5 months, and that his patella “remains structurally sound”.

According to ESPN, Irving felt “immediate relief” following the removal of the tension wire. It is thought that the pain caused by the wire is what was holding him back this season.

Kyrie Irving joined Boston in a high-profile trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the offseason. In his first Celtics season, he averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds. He last played on March 11.

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The loss of Irving is a huge blow for the Boston Celtics’ chances in the Eastern Conference Championship. They currently hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 53-25.

Following the news of Irving’s injury, Boston has fallen to + 375 in Eastern Conference futures odds. It is behind the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“”This season was only a snapshot of what’s to come from me,” said Irving in a reflective Instagram post.

The Celtics are also without guard Marcus Smart, who had thumb surgery in March. Smart is back in training and is expected to return to the court in time for the playoffs.