Steve Nash: Joe Harris experiencing ‘flare-ups’ and ‘little setbacks’ in left ankle rehab

It’s been a tricky left ankle rehab process for Joe Harris.

Harris, who hasn’t played since suffering the ankle injury on Nov. 14 against Oklahoma City, has experienced “some setbacks” and “flare-ups” in his rehab, according to Steve Nash. The Nets head coach said he didn’t feel comfortable in going further.

“He’s had some flare-ups,” said Nash on Harris’ ankle rehab. “I’m reluctant to talk about it because I’m not a doctor so I don’t want to say the wrong thing, but he’s definitely had some flare-ups and little setbacks here and there. [He’s] continuing to stay positive and work at his rehab, and try to overcome it.

“Yeah, there’s been some awareness [of the injury] and irritation. He’s been doing kind of a tug-of-war between making progress and then having some irritation. It’s really a process that has been tricky and he’s just going to keep working at it,” said Nash. “But overall, he is improving in a lot of fronts.”

When speaking to reporters Sunday afternoon in Minnesota, the Nets head coach also said the veteran wing isn’t cleared for the high-intensity stage of his ankle rehab but is progressing. Nash wasn’t committal whether Harris will return after the All-Star break.

“Tricky” or not, injury rehab is unfamiliar territory for Harris. He has been one of the most durable Nets since arriving in Brooklyn back in 2016. The 6’6” wing missed only three games last season and has played at least 69 games per season since the 2017-18 season.

• Brooklyn Nets’ Joe Harris has had ‘setbacks’ in ankle rehab - Nick Friedell - ESPN
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• Joe Harris’ return to Nets on hold after injury ‘flare-ups’ - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News