No vaccine, no game. Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn) saw his ban on training at the Nets facilities lifted Friday by New York City Hall, which nevertheless still denies him the right to play at home, due to his unvaccinated status, reports Friday The Athletic.
The reason why the star can again take part in sessions with his teammates is because the municipality has recognized that the HSS Training Center is a private building, and as such it could have access.
This is not the case with the Barclays Center, the room where the Nets play. And as long as the player does not present proof of at least one dose of vaccine received, according to the decree issued by the city at the end of August, he will not be able to defend the colors of his team.
About 95% of NBA players are now vaccinated. Some, like Andrew Wiggins, who had requested a religious exemption, ended up agreeing to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Flat and anti-ax earth
Asked at a press conference, his coach Steve Nash said he was hopeful Irving would join the team for practice on Saturday, but was not sure yet. “It’s positive to be able to welcome him back to our premises and to finally see him be part of the team again… It looks like this is positive news,” he said.
If he refuses to comment on the matter, Irving’s refusal to be vaccinated is the only explanation for his current situation with local authorities. Irving is defending a personal choice, but this isn’t the first time he’s made waves for his anti-science stances. According to Rolling Stone, Irving notably began to follow and “like” posts from an Instagram account propagating conspiratorial theories – claiming that “secret societies” sought to control the black minority via nanoparticles, as part of the campaign. ‘a “satanic plan”. In 2018, he had already hit the headlines by claiming that there was no proof that the Earth was round.
$ 381,000 lost for every game not played
If the blockage continues, the situation could prove detrimental for his team who could, if things remain so, have to do without him for half of the matches of the regular season, or 41, not to mention possible home games. in play-offs.
The NBA, not forcing its players to be vaccinated, instituted a very restrictive health protocol for the unvaccinated and decided that those who missed matches for this reason would see their wages reduced. For Irving, that loss would amount to $ 381,000 per unplayed game.