Kidd announced Blatche’s departure before the team’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on December 27th, saying that he’d be away from the team for “personal reasons.” He attended the team’s shootaround that morning, but was not seen at the arena and did not make the three-game road trip with the team this past week.
Blatche refused to comment on his absence, reportedly saying “it wouldn’t be personal if I told you:”
It’s personal reasons. It’s over with. The most important thing is I’m back out here playing with my team. That’s what’s most important right now. And that’s something I’ve been looking forward to since I’ve been gone.
-ESPN New York — Nets’ Andray Blatche returning
According to Blatche, he did not leave the New Jersey area during the trip, working out with the team’s trainers at the practice facility in New Jersey. It was the first time in the two-year history of the Brooklyn Nets that Blatche did not play with the team, snapping a streak of 117 consecutive regular season and playoff games.
In 28 games thus far this season, Blatche has averaged 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 23 minutes per game, recording five starts. His PER of 18.0 leads all active Nets players with at least 100 minutes played.
