Kyrie Irving will not have to be a part-time player for the Brooklyn Nets much longer.
New York City mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday that he is planning to lift the city’s vaccine mandate on March 7. That should pave the way for Irving to play in games at the Barclays Center in the near future, but there is still one more hurdle to clear.
Here's interpretation on NYC Mayor's announcement: Kyrie Irving remains restricted from playing under NYC mandate for large employers, but March 7 loosening of Key2NYC mandate is another step in what's expected to be an inevitability Irving will be cleared to play this season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 27, 2022
The Nets play the New York Knicks at home on March 12. It is unclear if the rules will change by then in way that would clear Irving to play, but things are trending in that direction.
Irving has not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, so he has not been eligible to play in home games for the Nets. Brooklyn has a chance to make a deep playoff run if everything goes right, even after trading James Harden. It’s unclear how Ben Simmons will fit in with the team, but it sounds like the Nets are going to have both him and Irving available at some point down the stretch and into the postseason.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver was recently critical of the hypocrisy surrounding Irving’s situation.
Photo: Feb 1, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
