Nets general manager Sean Marks said he was confident all Brooklyn players would meet New York City’s vaccine mandate as training camp opened.
But the Nets returned to practice in Brooklyn today, and Kyrie Irving – who’s reportedly unvaccinated – didn’t participate. If he remains unvaccinated without an exemption, he won’t be allowed to play Nets home games.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Sources with @WindhorstESPN: The Brooklyn Nets remain unclear on All-Star guard Kyrie Irving’s ultimate intentions to get vaccinated and have made no decision on whether the organization will accommodate him as a part-time player this season. Story soon on ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 6, 2021
There had been previous optimism Irving would get vaccinated and fulfill local mandates, but that hope is waning and Irving’s continued resistance to vaccination has Nets preparing for possibility they’ll be without him for home practices and games for foreseeable future. https://t.co/zysmp31bsl
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 6, 2021
Irving refused to elaborate on his vaccination decision. He reportedly liked coronavirus conspiracy theories online and has a history of conspiracy theorizing. He also got fined last season for violating the NBA’s coronavirus protocols by partying maskless indoors. Afterward, he talked about prioritizing what’s important.
For each game he misses due to New York’s mandate, Irving would lose $381,181 in base salary. For the full season, he could lose $17,153,155 plus another $381,181 per postseason game.
Opposing vaccination and facing a similar mandate in San Francisco, Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins got vaccinated – but said he felt forced into it.
The Nets won’t necessarily press Irving. They have built a culture of catering to their stars. Irving is also close with Kevin Durant, Brooklyn’s franchise player.
Yet, the Nets acquired another elite scoring guard in James Harden. Though its championship-favorite status is built on having all three stars, Brooklyn is relatively well-positioned to withstand Irving’s absences. Allowing Irving to miss home games could even help preserve Irving, who has a history of injuries, for the playoffs – assuming Irving can play postseason home games, either by getting vaccinated or seeing the mandate change.
Irving’s agents have reportedly threatened that the guard would retire if traded. But there’s a long way between here and the Nets wanting to break up this player-driven super team. The primary goal, of course, is having Irving play for the Nets.
But if he’s ineligible to do that in Brooklyn, the Nets must make some tricky choices about how to proceed.