Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving might play in Barclays Centre again. Despite Kyrie Irving playing three games this season, he has not got his Covid-19 vaccine yet. Not getting the vaccine stops him from playing in the Barclays due to NYC Covid Mandates.
Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, Irving could play inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. He would have to deal with the fines for noncompliance outlined in former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s new law “The Key to NYC.”
The penalties start with a warning for the first offence and then increase to $5,000 for a fifth offence and subsequent violations.
With Irving only playing in road games, paying a fine each time the point guard takes the floor at home would be one way to get him playing in Brooklyn. There is no other solution currently, at least until New York changes its vaccine policy or if he gets the vaccine.
ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported “there is real optimism” within the Nets organization that Irving will be able to play once the NBA playoffs begin. Still, the Nets currently do not want to violate NYC mandates.
The Nets also need to get the NBA to sign off on the proposed plan, which seems unlikely to happen. The NBA could suspend Irving to prevent him from playing in Brooklyn. The NBA’s statement gives them the power to do so.
The seven-time All-Star and a one-time NBA champion, Irving is averaging 17.7 points per game in three away games this season.
Wojnarowski believes that between now and the playoffs, enough in the world could change where Kyrie Irving could become a full-time player again.
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