Kyrie Irving finally is headed back to the Nets, at least on a part-time basis. 

The unvaccinated Big 3 guard has begun the process to return to the COVID-hampered squad as a player eligible to participate in road games outside New York, according to multiple reports. 

Irving hasn’t played this season because of his refusal to comply with New York’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates, but The Athletic reported earlier this week that there was “renewed optimism” for a potential return at some point this season. 

With Irving barred from participating in home games at Barclays Center, Nets GM Sean Marks declared in October that Irving would not practice with them or play games on the road “until he is eligible to be a full participant” because “we’re not looking for partners that are going to be half-time.” 

Nevertheless, Marks, Nets owner Joe Tsai, head coach Steve Nash and key players are “fully supportive” of Irving’s return, even if he’s not eligible to play at home, according to ESPN. 

“After discussions with our coaches, players and staff, the organization has decided to have Kyrie Irving re-join the team for games and practices in which he is eligible to participate,” Marks said in a statement. “We arrived at this decision with the full support of our players and after careful consideration of our current circumstances, including players missing games due to injuries and health and safety protocols. 

“We believe that the addition of Kyrie will not only make us a better team but allow us to more optimally balance the physical demand on the entire roster.” 

This was a change of tone for the Nets’ ownership. 

“So Kyrie talks about it as a sort of personal choice issue, which I respect. But we all need to not forget that our goal,” Tsai told The Post’s Brian Lewis in September during training camp in San Diego. “What is our goal this year? What’s our purpose this year? It’s very, very clear: Win a championship. And the championship team needs to have everybody pulling the same direction. … So I hope to see Kyrie play fully and win a championship together with everybody else, with all his teammates. That’s the best outcome for everybody.” 

The seven-time All-Star also will be able to rejoin the team in practice, because the Nets got the city to classify their Brooklyn facility, HSS Training Center, as an office rather than a gym. 

The Nets currently lead the Eastern Conference with a 21-8 record, but they have played their last two games without James Harden and six teammates because of the league’s health and safety protocols. 

“If we get the gift of his return, we’ll be ecstatic, but we can’t count on it,” Nets coach Steve Nash said earlier this week. “We can’t wait for him. We have to get to work, and get better, and our group’s been awesome this year.” 

In addition to Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre’ Bembry, Bruce Brown, Jevon Carter, James Johnson and Paul Millsap are presently sidelined due to the health and safety protocols. 

It is unclear how quickly Irving will be able to get back into the lineup, but the Nets’ next road game is next Thursday in Portland, with a Christmas visit to face the Lakers in Los Angeles to follow. The Nets’ next three games are at Barclays Center, beginning Saturday against Orlando. 

Irving’s pending return doesn’t come without risk, of course, as nearly 60 players have entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols this month alone. Irving averaged 26.9 points and 6.0 assists in 54 games last season before suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for the final three games of the Nets’ second-round playoff elimination by Milwaukee.