Kyrie Irving Won’t Play For Brooklyn Nets Until He’s Vaccinated

It isn’t just home games that Kyrie Irving will miss if he doesn’t get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Brooklyn Nets announced that Irving won’t play or practice with the team, at all, as long as he remains unvaccinated.

New York City’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements currently prevent Irving from playing at Barclays Center, the Nets’ home arena. Instead of allowing the All-Star to play in road games, Brooklyn says Irving will sit as long as he is unable to participate in the team’s full schedule.

"Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. 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," Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement.

"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 hasn’t played in any of Brooklyn’s three exhibition games. The Nets host the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday to conclude the preseason.

The Nets are scheduled to visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 19 in the first game of the 2021-2022 NBA regular season.

Brooklyn has been viewed as the heavy favorites to win this year’s title, even in light of Irving’s vaccination status.

If the Nets traded Irving to a team that plays its home games outside of New York City, Los Angeles or San Francisco, the guard would be allowed to compete in every contest. According to multiple reports, Irving might retire if he’s dealt to another team.

Irving signed a four-year contract with the Nets two years ago.