Follow Us
A loophole in New York City’s restrictions for unvaccinated employees cleared the way for Kyrie Irving to practice at the Brooklyn Nets’ facilities for the first time on Sunday. Just because he participated in official team activities, though, doesn’t mean the embattled point guard is ready to make his preseason debut.
Steve Nash told reporters that Irving won’t play in the Nets’ road exhibition game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday and will instead remain in Brooklyn, per Ian Begley of SNY.
Steve Nash says Kyrie Irving is not going to travel to PHI to play the Sixers tomorrow.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 10, 2021
Irving was able to practice with the Nets at the team’s practice facilities on Sunday morning after City Hall previously ruled that local vaccine mandates don’t apply to private offices.
Kyrie Irving is at the Nets facility in Brooklyn for today’s practice. It’s his first practice at the team facility this season. City Hall ruled earlier this week that the local vaccine mandate didn’t apply to the Nets’ practice facility, which is deemed a private office.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 10, 2021
Brooklyn initially expected Irving to get vaccinated before the start of the regular season. Nash said on Sunday, however, that the team is now continuing with the assumption that Irving won’t comply with local vaccine mandates, costing him the ability to play in home games at Barclays Center until further notice.
Nets coach Steve Nash says, as of now, team is operating under assumption that Kyrie Irving won’t be available for home games due to local vaccination ordinance. As he has said previously when asked about Irving, Nash notes that things can change at any moment.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 10, 2021
The Nets, consensus betting favorites to win the title in 2021-22, open the regular season against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 19th at Fiserv Forum. Their home debut comes on October 24th against the Charlotte Hornets.