Kyrie Irving reportedly "okay" after taking elbow to the head in pick-up game

Anytime your blue chip free agent is rushed to the hospital, it causes unease with the fan base, coaching staff, and front office. Luckily for Kyrie Irving, it appears the Nets first year floor general escaped any serious injuries.

According to VoxMedia, Irving isn't expected to miss significant time as head coach Kenny Atkinson gaves the thumbs up.

Just saw Kenny Atkinson who told us @KyrieIrving is “okay.” Atkinson accompanied Irving for a checkup after taking an elbow to the head in a scrimmage.
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) September 24, 2019

Irving has missed 148 games over his eight year career and has been somewhat vulnerable to injuries during his time in the NBA. The New Jersey native has a slight frame and with his knack for slashing into the paint and driving hard to the basket, he's on the receiving end of some not so friendly hits from his opponents.

The Nets are not opening training camp until this Friday, but seeing Irving in the gym on Friday grinding during pick-up games has to be an encouraging sign for Brooklyn fans. Many critics question Irving's leadership ability as last year his Celtics teammates revolted against him and the locker room came apart from the inside-out.

With the Nets establishing a team-first attitude and culture, the hope is that with the guidance of Atkinson and high-octane offensive system, that Irving can return to a MVP level with some tweaks to his game.

Several scouts have noted that Irving has a tendency to over-dribble and should adopt a more decisive game like James Harden where he can stretch his range to hit 3-pointers with regularity. While Atkinson's system is predicated on a combination of isolation ball and pick and r oll, Irving is going to need to expand his repertoire if he hopes to reach a new level this upcoming season.