Nets would still welcome Kyrie Irving back if city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate changes
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News
NEW YORK — The Nets would welcome Kyrie Irving back with open arms if he becomes eligible to play at Barclays Center again.
That could happen if the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate gets changed by mayor-elect Eric Adams. The current mandate requires the Big Apple’s professional athletes be vaccinated against COVID-19 to play at home games in any of the five boroughs and was established by current mayor Bill de Blasio. But that kind of change would still be about two months away from possibly happening.
“I might be speaking out of turn,” Nets head coach Steve Nash said ahead of their tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, “but I think if the mandate changes, he’d be welcomed back for sure.”
Adams, who will officially be sworn in as mayor on Jan. 1, has been publicly optimistic at the odds of Irving returning to play this season. The Nets star guard opted not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, forcing Nets owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks to rule him ineligible to play or practice with his teammates until he fulfills the city’s vaccine requirement.
Marks was asked last month how long the franchise would wait for Irving.
“I don’t know what’s going through his head right now as it pertains to this particular decision and the direction he wants to take it,” he said on Oct. 12. “All I can say is he’s a member of this team, but not with the group here and we’d welcome him back but again that would have to be under a different set of circumstances.”
Adams appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday, the morning after winning the election, and discussed loosening vaccine mandates in the city.
“We need to revisit how we are going to address the vaccine mandates,” he said. “Now, I stated I did not want to Monday-morning-quarterback the mayor. This is his time to be the man, he has to make the decisions.”
The NBA and Irving, however, are already in agreement: It’s a New York City policy keeping him off the court, not a league ruling.
Adams’ talk of lifting vaccine mandates in office, however, has not been angled directly at Irving or professional athletes — they’re for municipal workers, like firefighters and police officers, who were forced to get vaccinated by Oct. 29 or begin an unpaid leave of absence on Nov. 1.
“I hope the mayor — and I am encouraging him to do that — to sit down with unions and come to a resolution,” Adams, who is still the Brooklyn borough president, said on CNN’s “New Day.” “And if he doesn’t, if this is still going to January, I’m going to sit down with them and we’re going to get this resolved.”
Adams’ message differs from acting governor Kathy Hochul, who delivered a speech imploring children under age 12 to get vaccinated at Barclays Center on Tuesday. Hochul suggested the Nets stand on the right side of history by exiling Irving until he gets vaccinated.
“I think the message is that the team itself supports vaccinations,” Hochul said. “The vast, vast, vast majority of their players are vaccinated, and they’re here to support making sure that members of the community are vaccinated.”
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
Elise Amendola
The Nets' All-Star guard went on Instagram Live last week to say he still hopes to play for Brooklyn this season but has decided not to take the COVID-19 vaccination shot. He said he's not pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine, explaining that "this is about my life and what I am choosing to do."
New York's COVID-19 vaccination protocols require that only vaccinated people are allowed at various public indoor activities. A player in the New York market has to have at least one vaccination shot to practice or play in the city.
Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said the team wasn't going to allow Irving to join the team until he gets at least one vaccine shot.
According to reports, the NBA and players' association agreed to a reduction in pay of 1/91.6% of salary for each game an unvaccinated player misses because of local COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Irving would lose $380,000 per game if he's not able to play.
Irving said on Instagram that "I'm not retiring."
Elise Amendola
The Nets' All-Star guard went on Instagram Live last week to say he still hopes to play for Brooklyn this season but has decided not to take the COVID-19 vaccination shot. He said he's not pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine, explaining that "this is about my life and what I am choosing to do."
New York's COVID-19 vaccination protocols require that only vaccinated people are allowed at various public indoor activities. A player in the New York market has to have at least one vaccination shot to practice or play in the city.
Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said the team wasn't going to allow Irving to join the team until he gets at least one vaccine shot.
According to reports, the NBA and players' association agreed to a reduction in pay of 1/91.6% of salary for each game an unvaccinated player misses because of local COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Irving would lose $380,000 per game if he's not able to play.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
Matt Rourke
After saying he didn't want to play for the 76ers and wasn't going to show up to training camp, he finally showed up to camp.
It makes one wonder if money had anything to do with his decision. The 76ers had put $8.25 million due Simmons in escrow. His fines for missing games and practices could be taken from that amount.
Simmons, who has four years left on his contract worth about $147 million, is with the team working on his conditioning. The 76ers have said they'd like to keep the 25-year-old All-Star forward.
The teams that had reached out to the 76ers said Philadelphia was asking for too much to trade Simmons, and the teams don't believe Philadelphia has that leverage any more to get a big haul.
Stay tuned.
Matt Rourke
After saying he didn't want to play for the 76ers and wasn't going to show up to training camp, he finally showed up to camp.
It makes one wonder if money had anything to do with his decision. The 76ers had put $8.25 million due Simmons in escrow. His fines for missing games and practices could be taken from that amount.
Simmons, who has four years left on his contract worth about $147 million, is with the team working on his conditioning. The 76ers have said they'd like to keep the 25-year-old All-Star forward.
The teams that had reached out to the 76ers said Philadelphia was asking for too much to trade Simmons, and the teams don't believe Philadelphia has that leverage any more to get a big haul.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
According to 80% of NBA executives polled during an NBA.com survey, the Lakers will reach the NBA Finals before losing to the just-as-talented Brooklyn Nets.
For the Lakers, it'll be about making it fit on a deep roster, keeping egos in check and playing better defense than most pundits think they can.
They have 11 new players on their 14-man roster, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker returning.
They've added the dynamic Russell Westbrook, with many believing that the triple-double machine will have to make the most changes to his game to make their Big 3 work.
They've brought back Dwight Howard for a third tour of duty and added Carmelo Anthony, two players with strong personalities.
They have nine players over 30 and six at least 35 or older, so age will be a topic of concern all season.
According to 80% of NBA executives polled during an NBA.com survey, the Lakers will reach the NBA Finals before losing to the just-as-talented Brooklyn Nets.
For the Lakers, it'll be about making it fit on a deep roster, keeping egos in check and playing better defense than most pundits think they can.
They have 11 new players on their 14-man roster, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker returning.
They've added the dynamic Russell Westbrook, with many believing that the triple-double machine will have to make the most changes to his game to make their Big 3 work.
They've brought back Dwight Howard for a third tour of duty and added Carmelo Anthony, two players with strong personalities.
They have nine players over 30 and six at least 35 or older, so age will be a topic of concern all season.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
Paul Sancya
Don't the Milwaukee Bucks have one of the league's top-five players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the top two-way players in Jrue Holiday, an All-Star in Khris Middleton and some really good complementary pieces?
Maybe it's because many feel the Bucks were lucky to win the title and it was their time last season when many top contenders were missing star players to injury.
Regardless, the Bucks still have a very good team.
Paul Sancya
Don't the Milwaukee Bucks have one of the league's top-five players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the top two-way players in Jrue Holiday, an All-Star in Khris Middleton and some really good complementary pieces?
Maybe it's because many feel the Bucks were lucky to win the title and it was their time last season when many top contenders were missing star players to injury.
Regardless, the Bucks still have a very good team.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
Adam Hunger
Irving can't practice or play in a game in Brooklyn because he's hasn't met New York's COVID-19 mandate that requires a player to have at least one vaccination shot to participate in indoor practices or game.
Still, many NBA executives in the NBA.com survey believe the Nets will win the title because they still have the nearly unstoppable Kevin Durant and the lethal James Harden.
It's just that it will be tough task to undertake if the uber-talented Irving remains a distraction for the Nets all season.
Adam Hunger
Irving can't practice or play in a game in Brooklyn because he's hasn't met New York's COVID-19 mandate that requires a player to have at least one vaccination shot to participate in indoor practices or game.
Still, many NBA executives in the NBA.com survey believe the Nets will win the title because they still have the nearly unstoppable Kevin Durant and the lethal James Harden.
It's just that it will be tough task to undertake if the uber-talented Irving remains a distraction for the Nets all season.
Nets would still welcome Kyrie Irving back if city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate changes
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America/TNS
Kyrie Irving (11) of the Brooklyn Nets during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Oct. 3, 2021 in Los Angeles. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/TNS)
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America/TNS
Kyrie Irving (11) of the Brooklyn Nets during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Oct. 3, 2021 in Los Angeles. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/TNS)
