For the first time since the beginning of the season, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving spoke to reporters on Wednesday after practicing with his teammates. Irving, who is unvaccinated, passed the league's health and safety protocols and was asked to rejoin the team as a part-time player. Initially, when Irving declined to take the COVID-19 vaccine, he was deemed ineligible to play at home games by the Nets organization, Heavy reports . The seven-time All-Star was also prohibited from participating in team practices until he was "eligible to be a full participant," ESPN reports . "I understood their decision, and I respected it. I knew the consequences. I wasn't prepared for them. I really had to sit back and think and try to not become too emotionally attached to what they were deciding to do. I had to sit down and really evaluate things and see it from their perspective, meaning the organization and my teammates," the 2016 NBA champion said. Kyrie Irving says he understands the...