BREAKING NEWS – Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks said Tuesday in a virtual conference with the media, that guard Kyrie Irving “will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant,” as issues relating to the star guard’s vaccination status continue.
On Friday, a New York City Hall official told CNN that Irving would be allowed to practice at the team’s facility, but would not be permitted to take part in the Nets’ home games at Barclays Center due to New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The vaccine mandate, which went into effect last month, states that anyone entering an indoor gym, including Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden, the homes of the Nets and New York Knicks, has to have at least one COVID-19 shot.
Nets head coach Steve Nash had confirmed that his team will be without the services of Irving for upcoming home games, but Marks sent a stronger message that the Nets would not allow a player to be part-time.
“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.”
Marks also said, when asked if Irving’s fellow stars, Kevin Durant and James Harden, were consulted on this decision that “everyone” in the organization was aware of what was going on, but that he and owner Joe Tsai were the ones who made it. “Ultimately, this decision was Joe Tsai and myself, and this decision came down to what we felt was the right move for the organization at this time,” Marks said.
Irving, who is a product of Duke University, under the leadership of head coach Mike Krzyzewski in the 2010-2011 season, was a strong contender for NCAA Freshman of the Year until he suffered a severe ligament injury in his right big toe during the ninth game of the season.
The seven-time NBA All-Star, had spoken at the leagues’ media day last month about his excitement to play in front of home fans again. He refused to publicize his vaccination status, saying he “would like to keep all that private.” “I know that I’ll be there every day no matter what and just be present for my teammates as one of the leaders on the team,” he added.
“I know the focus has to be at an all-time high, no distractions. This is the last thing I wanted to create, was more distractions and more hoopla and more drama around this. “I’m doing my best to maintain this with good intentions and a good heart.”
The NBA sent a warning to the Nets, as well as the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors in September that new Covid-19 policies set by local governments will prohibit any unvaccinated player from playing in home games in New York City and San Francisco.
As a result, Irving is unable to play in 43 regular season games, 41 at Barclays Center, plus two at MSG, and another two preseason games in Brooklyn. Marks confirmed Irving would only lose money for those games, roughly $380,000 per game.
The Nets open their 2021-22 season on the road against the defending NBA champion, Milwaukee Bucks on October 19, before hosting their first home game of the season on October 24 against the Charlotte Hornets.
