Kyrie Irving Leaves MSG to Grieve Kobe Bryant's Death and Will Not Play vs Knicks

And who could possibly blame him?

Kyrie Irving, the freelancing guard with no fear who more often than not reminds us all of The Mamba on the court, was as close with him off of it as one would think. In the wake of the deaths of Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and the three others helicopter passengers, Irving has departed Madison Square Garden before his Brooklyn Nets' battle with the Knicks, and will not play on Sunday evening.

Irving is taking matters into his own hands here, doing what the NBA likely should've taken care of league-wide.

We're not sure how Sunday's slate is going to continue, with all of the league's stars, coaches, and executives rightfully overcome with unbridled emotion. We're not even sure how a season goes on as scheduled, with so many wide-ranging implications of this tragedy.

Surely, Irving isn't the only man who feels as if he can't perform under the circumstances, and we commend his maneuver.