Brooklyn Nets players are required to have at least one vaccine dose
Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks has stated that point guard Kyrie Irving will not practise or play with the Nets until he’s allowed to be a “full participant.”
Although the NBA does not require its players to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to play in the league, certain states have different rules that players have to abide by.
In New York City and San Francisco, everyone who enters the building – including players – has to be vaccinated unless they are medically exempt, with both cities announcing that entry would simply be refused to those who aren’t.
While the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center requires double vaccination, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets players are required to have at least one dose to be made eligible.
Although Irving has not publicly stated that he’s not vaccinated, the Nets have confirmed that until he is eligible to be a ‘full participant’, he will not take part in practice or in games.
“Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant,” the statement issued by Marks read.
“Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently, the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the term, and we will permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.”
Brooklyn Nets full statement on Kyrie Irving’s situation. pic.twitter.com/U4TsrLg1mU
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 12, 2021
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the American will miss out on $381,181 for every game he misses as a result of local vaccine restrictions in Brooklyn.
Should Irving miss all 41 home games this season, he could potentially lose in the region of $15.6 million.
As well as this, he would miss out on $762,362 for missing the two games against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
“I like to keep that stuff private,” he said last week at the team’s media day.
“I’m a human being first. Obviously living in this public sphere, there’s a lot of questions about what’s going on in the world of Kyrie, and I think I would love to keep that private and handle it the right way with my team and go forward together with a plan.
“Obviously I’m not able to be present there today, but that doesn’t mean I’m putting any limits on the future for me being able to join the team.”
The Nets’ season is set to kick off on October 20 when they travel to Milwaukee and they will be hoping that they are able to field one of their star men who averaged 26.9 points and six assists per game in his 54 appearances last season.
Related links:
- NBA rejects Wiggins’ vaccine exemption request
- Bar refuses to show NBA games until LeBron James is expelled from league
- NBA star Kyrie Irving has bought a house for George Floyd’s family
