Kyrie Irving, Unvaccinated Yankees And Mets Will Be Allowed To Play In Home Games

Kyrie Irving will return as a full-time player just when the Brooklyn Nets need him most. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to lift the COVID-19 vaccinate mandate on professional athletes, according to multiple reports.

Irving hasn’t been able to play in home games for the entire 2021-2022 NBA season because of the mandate. Adams will reportedly announce Thursday that the mandate requiring employees in the city to be vaccinated no longer includes athletes and performers.

The announcement will pave the way for unvaccinated players on the New York Yankees and New York Mets to play in home games. The Yankees start the season at Yankee Stadium on April 7. The Mets’ home opener is scheduled for April 15.

The 2022 NBA playoffs start April 16. The Nets will likely have to earn a postseason spot in the play-in tournament, which lasts from April 12-15.

Calls to allow Irving and other unvaccinated athletes to be allowed to play have increased in recent weeks. Irving has been able to practice with the Nets and even attend games at Barclays Center, but the mandate has prevented him from suiting up for home games.

Without the reversal from Adams, unvaccinated Yankees and Mets’ players wouldn’t have been able to compete at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, even though the venues are outdoors.

For now, athletes still are not allowed to play in Toronto due to Canada's strict policies. If the NBA standings remain unchanged, the Nets would be scheduled to visit the Toronto Raptors in the first game of the play-in tournament. The Yankees are slated to play nine road games against the Toronto Blue Jays this season.

There’s been speculation the Yankees star Aaron Judge isn’t vaccinated. The outfielder has declined to state his vaccination status.

Less than 60% of Mets’ players were vaccinated at one point last season, according to The New York Post.