The Nets have decided that they’re not comfortable with guard Kyrie Irving only playing in half the team’s games due to his vaccination status. Brooklyn issued a press release today announcing that Irving won’t play or practice with the team until he can be a “full participant,” with general manager Sean Marks explaining the organization’s stance.
“Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose,” Marks said in a statement. “Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.
“It is imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-established values of togetherness and sacrifice. Our championship goals for the season have not changed, and to achieve these goals each member of our organization must pull in the same direction. We are excited for the start of the season and look forward to a successful campaign that will make the borough of Brooklyn proud.”
Irving is the only player on the Nets who remains unvaccinated against COVID-19. A New York City executive order requires individuals who work in the city to have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine in order to enter indoor venues such as Barclays Center.
The Nets appeared to catch a break last week when the city deemed the team’s practice facility, the HSS Center, a private office building, allowing Irving to practice both at home and on the road. However, there was no wiggle room on his ability to play in games in New York.
Taking into account the Nets’ 41 home games and their two games at Madison Square Garden, Irving would be ineligible to play in 43 of 82 regular season contests this season as long as he remains unvaccinated and the city’s executive order remains unchanged.
Although Irving would have been eligible to play in Brooklyn’s other 39 games, it would have been a very stop-and-start process, especially since the Nets have seven home stands this season of three games or more. The team has decided it would be untenable to have the point guard only available on the road, a decision that involved stars Kevin Durant and James Harden in addition to Marks and team owner Joe Tsai, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (link via RealGM).
Now that the Nets have clarified their position, it’ll be fascinating to see what comes next. Irving could immediately end the standoff by agreeing to be vaccinated, but if he digs in his heels, the team will have to determine whether it will indefinitely suspend the seven-time All-Star.
Exploring the trade market is another option the Nets could consider, since Irving would be eligible to play in all 82 games in most other NBA cities. However, the 29-year-old isn’t expected to have a ton of trade value, given his mercurial personality and his expiring contract.
Uhhh. Sure.
Kyrie Irving is making a personal choice re Vaccination, the Organization is making their Business Choice. The outcome shouldn’t be couched on who wins or who loses, the outcome should be determined by what’s best for the Sport.
Question, was the above noted “business choice” easier to make because of a potential taxpayer funded bailout from the city/state, being that this drama is caused by New York’s stricter Covid policies?
dawg, you cant get a doctor to get you a fake vaccine card filled out? I’m sure there’s someone in that city willing to do it for the right amount of money
That would be a felony.
Anything less than the best is also a felony
Love it or leave it, you better gangway.
you better hit bullseye the kid don’t play
I believe the NBA administers the vaccine directly to its players, so no.
Yea than when the truth comes out that doctor will be in big trouble .
Wtf?
Is that some sort of ignorant conspiracy mongering or a veiled threat of violence?
So, you are ok with Kyrie refusing, but ‘freedom’ does NOT include the 400 or so other players to voluntarily act as good team mates and bear the terrible burden of a momentary jab in the arm?
Seems you have a strange definition of what it means to be free – no community responsibility, and also no accountability for those who have no community responsibility. I bet you think you are a patriot, too.
Stevep-4: your second paragraph is very nicely said.
Not sure where this comes from but it’s clearly just a basic statement of fact. It is illegal to falsify medical records, and if doctors are caught doing so they are penalized, including potentially getting their medical license revoked. No other personal views were shared in that post. Take a deep breath.
It is pretty easy to fake for a “normal Joe” and doctors are not required; pharmacies administer, so do unmarked guys in roadside tents. But the NBA requires more formality because the whole league would suffer in reputation if they allow themselves such priviledges.
Thing is, Irving probably wants some social leadership from this, so must be firm.
“Community Responsibility”? Where is that in the constitution?
Ask Evander Kane how well that works.
Make Irving go for an around the world plane ride to show him the planet isn’t flat.
Kyries contract isn’t a true expiring contract since he has a player option for 2022-2023 and with allllllll that comes with Kyrie I doubt teams would be lining up to offer him that much.
Dude is my favorite player to watch but he’s hard to understand. Either he’s the smartest guy in the room and time will tell or he’s a complete goof who takes pleasure from smelling his own farts. He’ll eventually move to the Bay Area, switch religions and become a cult leader or follower.
Kryie Irving has never been the smartest guy in the room. That is what he wants his fans to think.
Nobody who either believes the earth is flat or continues to debate the fact for fun is the smartest guy in the room.
You should get better role models
@CF
I know you don’t know me. There’s no profile information. Im old enough to be well past the point of needing a role model especially an athlete or entertainer. I never said he was my role model. I said he was my favorite player to watch (play basketball). Let’s be honest, we all have had a slight bit of skepticism involving the vaccine for various reasons. I won’t get into the various REAL concerns but most of us choose to get vaccinated because we put our trusts in the majority of doctors coupled with our fear of catching it and desire to move on in life. Who knows what facts the future may bare? What if Kyrie’s fears proves to be wise? Doubtful, but possible. My point is, either his decision will prove to be the wisest or he’ll be proven to be a big fool. But living in the moment he’s got to make a choice between his health concerns and his professional responsibilities. I will say this to any and all casual and hardcore drug users. You bet not ever…… ever, ever, ever…. let me catch you smoking ANYTHING that didn’t come directly from the ground that you SAW with your OWN EYES that you put in your body. Soooo many clients of mine are anti vax but accept whatever smoke they get from their weed guy or whatever else they might be into. If they are cool with that stuff then they need to just get the vax too.
I have no reservations about the vaccine at all. the CDC is a fantastic resource as is all the doctors and medical professionals.
We live in a society with rules. The law is crystal clear about the State v. Public health.
Kyrie Irving is ill informed and a fool. That has been proven over and over again and his crossover or his instragram account will not change that.
So ill stick to my original premise, Kyrie Irving is never the smartest guy in the room.
Best of luck to both of you.
@CF
Are you deaf, ignorant or dumb? Im vaccinated. I put faith in what the doctors say. However, not all doctors are on the same page are they? Throughout the history of vaccines they’ve later found that they can cause increased risks in various diseases. Narcolepsy, autism e.t.c. Just like ANY drug they have side effects sometimes worse than thr disease they’re meant to cure. It’s all a matter of some authority deciding whether or not the danger of NOT being vaccinated is greater than the possible side effects. My like of Kyrie is for his basketball play not his off-court intelligence or beliefs. Not sure why you find it necessary to be a Richard about it. And while I am vaccinated and think we allllllll should don’t be so smug and act as if there’s no history of doctors being wrong. We walk on faith in what they say and God. Its up to Kyrie to decide how much he wants to stand on his convictions. I’ts his body. I he gets sick it’s his fault. If he decides to walk away from basketball and lose money then they’d his choice. As long as he wears his mask and is conscious of not being around large groups then let him sink into obscurity
Please tell us which vaccine causes autism, knickscavsfan. We’ll wait. You calling someone ignorant is rich.
@CF When did he ever bring up Kyrie being his or anybody’s role model? He said that Kyrie is his favorite player to watch. Big difference than saying he looks up to him or admires him. Stop being like that.
The sad part is he is smart and thoughtful. Very disappointed in him.
No either. He is definitely not the smartest person in a room even when he’s by himself
That’s all true. Kyrie has had Covid before and likely has stronger resistance against reaqcireing the virus, transmission and or severe symptoms than most vaccinated individuals that never got the virus. The vaccine has a very slight marginal benefit to him and anyone else that has already had the actual virus.
He probably should still just get it, the vaccines efficacy in his case isn’t something that should even be a big deal. Just because things are true in general doesn’t mean they are in particular.
I mean he’s pretty rich he could conduct an experiment showing his levels of naturally arrived immunity is on par and or likely above that of the vaccinated population and force them to reject science instead of the other way around.
People who have been vaccinated have higher antibodies (“resistance”) than people who have had COVID and lived. So that is not accurate.
People who have had COVID and lived, can become reinfected and can die. Vaccinating people, whether they have had COVID or not, decreases the likelihood of hospitalizations, death and serious permanent conditions (assuming you don’t die).
Everyone who is healthy enough to be vaccinated should be. It even prevents infection and reinfections.
It does not prevent infection or reinfection. So that is not accurate.
Wrong Random. Study recently came out.
Lmao what study said people with vaccines wont get covid and wont get covid again.
Guess every vaccinated person that tested positive for covid after vaccination was make believe.
link to cnbc.com
Not wrong. Guess you haven’t seen all the stories of people still getting Covid after vaccination. They’re all over the place. That’s what these breakthrough cases are. Just the other day there was one about Jaylen Brown getting it. He’s been vaccinated. But feel free to provide this “study” you speak of.
Random as the virus mutates the effects wane. As to the “original” variants it indeed provided protection. As to the newer variants the protection is only temporary (about three months) but as newer boosters are developed with the newer variants in mind those too will be provided protection. And apparently random you didn’t read nor comprehend my “original” post above which said you can become reinfected.
Literally on the last sentence of your original post you said “It even prevents infection and reinfections.” I think my reading comprehension is just fine, thanks.
Also, you still didn’t provide proof of this supposed new study. I’m not just gonna take your word for it.
@random
you are a prefect example of someone who misunderstands what a vaccine does. it dursnt prevent you catching cov19. It prevents or hampers the worst diffe effects of catching the disease. it could be as simple as nothing to a common cold. it also is suppose to leb the chance of you spreading it. please do your research.
I couldn’t really understand what you wrote because of the misspellings, however I’m not sure why you’re claiming I don’t know what I’m talking about. Dodger1958 is literally the one who said the vaccine prevents people from getting Covid or getting it again. I’m saying he’s wrong. I am not the one saying it prevents you from getting Covid. Are people even reading this thread? How are you missing this?
Lessens the likelihood of a viral load gaining enough mass to more severely infect.
Idk if it lessens viral load as vaccinated are showing to have similar viral loads as unvaccinated. But sure man.
link to ucdavis.edu
Vaccination doesn’t lessen the viral load if you do get a rare breakthrough case, but you’re less likely to be coughing and sneezing because you don’t get either asymptomatic or not as sick.
Random, it is not about getting 100% protection (which is not possible); just increasing it. But the picture is bigger than one person.
If you cared, it is also about hurd immunity; and even bigger, about nipping this new danger in the bud before it mutates into more smarts.
DaBlow, what on earth are you blabbering about?
Kyrie for Ben Simmons. Everyone’s happy.
No one is happy. It’s just two teams pawning off their headaches onto someone else.
@antsmith7
That deal makes zero sense from the Sixers perspective. They will eventually feel the effects of Kyrie’s decision too. Can you imagine if they have a great playoff run that ultimately has to run thru the Brooklyn Nets (gasps loudly). ohhhh baby get the popcorn ready and don’t…. miss…a…. single Embiid impromptu interview. Can you imagine if the Sixers minus Kyrie had to miss playoff games vs the Nets or (slightly harder to imagine) if the Warriors were there in the finals? I can only see a team not expecting to compete, with cap space or a contract they want to get from under, being interested in Kyrie. Stay away Kobe Altman!!!!!!
under these specific circumstances, who would you rather have? kyrie or John wall?
No vaccine requirements apply to visiting talent in cities. This applies performers outside of sports as well. KI said he would retire if traded so unless a team hears directly from him that he will play I doubt anyone is even exploring trades with BK.
My bad. You are correct about the visiting team. I think Toronto might be the only exception to visiting team members. However, neither Kyrie, his reps or a anonymous source have said ANYTHING about him retiring. That was someone speculating about the possibility.
He could retire for a year and a half or something then sign a new deal. It would void his contract, and not sure about bird rights.
Kyrie is the real virus
There always something with this Kyrie fellow. There is something “flat” in there for sure.
Pancake brain…
No play = no pay.
This dude who would otherwise be a clear half of famer, is missing soooo many games of his prime over these last few years
He already is a hall of famer if he never played another game
I doubt even Clevelanders would say that.
yeah that’s a great idea…
Irving owns he knows what’s up he has intelligence
Having something and USING something are two different things.
I’m kinda liking a Kyrie for Simmons + deal more now. Durant did not want to lose Kyrie supposedly. Let’s see if this changes his mind
Basketball’s version of Ricky Williams. Talent that 99% of the league would kill to have, but will end up being a story of “what might have been” because of his head.
Last interview I read with Ricky it seemed he was happy. Big difference is Ricky is spiritual and likes his weed. His beliefs aren’t hurting anyone.
Ricky Williams’s head did not need the protection of wearing a helmet during pressers… it needed a shrink!
What do you think BloodySocks v
I’m just here for the medical advice.
#LetKyriePlay
Bottom line is Kyrie still getting paid half of his salary not doing anything.
Maybe he will stay fresh for the postseason this way. :)