The Masked Man is back.

Kyrie Irving went full speed for the first time since suffering a facial fracture last Tuesday. And, at his first official Nets practice since camp started, he said he still despises the protective mask he has to wear, but loves being back on the floor with his new teammates.

“It was good, I enjoyed it. Obviously still hate the mask, but it’s part of it,” Irving said. “Just to be out here competing with the guys, getting through our scripted plays, just really enjoying the camaraderie and the competition and having everybody out here raise their level of play and just be dialed-in. That’s a great thing for us.”

Irving has been ubiquitous on the sidelines in practice, talking and prodding and coaching. But having him back out on the court gave the Nets a boost and raised their energy level.

“No issues. Played really well,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “There was another level of energy and competitiveness. It’s great. I think great players push all of us to be better.”

It was a boost that Irving’s teammates noticed as well.

“Obviously when you add Kyrie back it’s awesome,” DeAndre Jordan said. “Our intensity has been great because Kevin [Durant] and him have been here coaching from the sidelines and giving their two cents. It definitely was good to have him back, getting him to jell with everybody else.”

For Irving’s part, he was itching to get back on the court, and felt a responsibility to help raise the level of play in camp.

“Oh, hell, yeah,” said Irving. “It’s a different energy. You get the wheels going a little bit. Obviously, they had three great days of practice, but I’ve been champing at the bit because I just want to get guys used to the physicality of the next level of play that we’re going to be challenged to be at during the regular season.“It’s just an identity thing right now for us: Developing that, getting the continuity, the newness out and then just playing basketball and having fun.”

Once Irving resumed playing basketball on Wednesday, he did it with a protective mask. This marks the third time the point guard has donned a mask, and he’s always excelled wearing it.

While with Cleveland, Irving suffered a broken jaw against Milwaukee on Dec. 14, 2012. He flew to New York to get fitted for a mask and lit the Knicks up for a then career-high 41 points on Dec. 15.

Then, after being dealt to Boston, Irving left a game against Charlotte on Nov. 10, 2017 with a minor facial fracture. He missed only one game and returned to face the Nets on Nov. 14.

Despite Atkinson being noncommittal, Irving admits he doesn’t expect to play Friday’s preseason opener against Brazilian team Sesi/Franca. He added he would grudgingly keep the mask as long as needed, but hopes that won’t stretch past the Oct. 23 season opener.

“I hope not. Obviously, there’s this thing going on in terms of what I do with my mask versus when I’m not wearing it, the averages versus both. That’s just a telltale sign I’ve gotten hit in my face a little too much. If it carries over into the season as a safety precaution, I’m willing to accept that,” Irving said, cognizant of his various facial injuries.

“I’ve gotten hit in my face a few times. When I took that shot in practice, it really rang an alarm in my head. I knew it was something different. I have three fractures under [my left eye] and one fracture by my nose. … So for me it’s just being safe, making sure I have my mask on. If I don’t wear it, it’s obviously putting me at a higher chance of getting hit and having further damage. So, I don’t want that to occur.”