Kyrie Irving to Miss Rest of Season for the Nets

Nets guard Kyrie Irving will have an operation on his ailing right shoulder and miss the rest of the regular season, Sean Marks, the team’s general manager, told reporters on Thursday.

Marks said the decision had been made after Irving spent the “last few days visiting with a specialist.” Irving is expected to return in time for the beginning of next season, but a more specific timetable will not be determined until after the operation.

“He’s obviously upset about this,” Marks said.

“We’re here to support him, support the process, moving forward with him.”Irving, one of the franchise’s marquee free agent signings from last summer, had already missed much of the season because of the injury, plus a few games because of a knee injury.

He was limited to only 20 games, but when he was on the court, Irving was one of the most productive players in the N.B.A., averaging 27.4 points a game on a 59.5 true shooting percentage, in addition to 6.4 assists a game.