The Brooklyn Nets recently announced that they would be bringing Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, back as a part-time player in the midst of injuries, COVID losses and more minutes than desired on the legs of Kevin Durant and James Harden. Irving's return hit a roadblock when it was reported that he, along with Kevin Durant and James Harden, had entered the league's health and safety protocols after a positive COVID-19 test. Amid all this chaos, New York state senator Brad Hoylman unloaded on the Nets for their decision to bring back the unvaccinated Irving.

“It makes my blood boil that celebrities and professional athletes are getting a pass. And the rest of us? Our health is endangered, and we’re sick and dying. It’s the ultimate F-you to fans.”
Hoylman went on: “They’re sending a mixed message. They are allowing the vaccine-hesistant players to dominate the news cycle, and they’re perpetuating conspiracy theories and other misunderstandings around vaccines. And at the end of the day, they’re putting lives at risk based on their foot-dragging.”

Brad Hoylman called the Nets' decision to bring Kyrie Irving back “an outrage”, Hoylman, who introduced a law that sought to expand vaccine requirements to visiting players and performers, feels that the Nets are enabling those who deny the vaccine's effectiveness by seemingly caving to Irving.

Hoylman goes on to say that the Nets' Irving decision is a big ‘F-you' to the fans, who have to abide by safety rules but still get sick. Meanwhile, in Hoylman's eyes, athletes like Irving, who choose not to follow the rules, don't face any consequences.

Hoylman also feels that the Nets are putting lives at risk by bringing Irving, who has refused to get the vaccine, back into the picture.

It's certainly fair to question the timing of the Nets' decision, given the COVID-19 outbreak sweeping through the NBA, which has resulted in several Brooklyn players, including Durant, Irving and Harden, entering the health and safety protocols, as well as game postponements.

If you ask Brad Hoylman, the timing of the Nets' decision to bring Kyrie Irving back couldn't have been worse.