Kyrie Irving can play in the Barclays Center from Brooklyn after the city of New York has lowered its current mandate against COVID-19 and allow exemptions for athletes and artists, as reported by Shams Charania, a journalist for ‘The Athletic’. That means the point guard can rejoin the Nets full time just for the final stretch of the season. His ‘signing’ supposes an earthquake for the NBA. The rivals already tremble.
“Let’s follow the science, let’s make the right decision. In New York, no matter what you do, there are 8.8 million people and 30 million opinions, so you’re never going to satisfy New Yorkers, so you must go with logic, your heart and science,” said the mayor of New York, Eric Adams.
As in the case of Irving, who has not received any of the doses of the coronavirus vaccine, the measure also affects unvaccinated players from the New York Yankees and the New York Metswho will be able to play the games at home.
Opposed to receiving the vaccine
Irving has been the strongest opponent of receiving the coronavirus vaccine in the NBA, although he has not given a very clear reason for his position. Under current rules, the Nets guard is not allowed to play for his team in home games, although he can play away and recently attended one of the games as a spectator.
Now the Nets will be able to count on their second star full time, who added to Kevin Durant multiplies the ring options of the Brooklyn franchise. Irving has averaged 27.7 points and 5.3 assists in 19 games this season. His team is currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conferencewith which, if he finished there, he would have to play the play-in.
