Sleepless in New York, that’s how Kyrie Irving said he experienced the turn of the year, he was just so excited. A basketball multimillionaire who has “palpitations” and self-doubt because he is finally allowed to train again with his teammates – something must have happened. And in fact, the story of the most prominent anti-vaccine in US sport is about stubbornness, existential hardships and moral constraints in times of pandemics.
To put it into perspective: Irving, 29, is not just any basketball player, but one of the best conductors ever. Last season he played the strongest season of his career in the US professional league NBA (almost 27 points on average), he is world champion, Olympic champion and NBA champion. He makes his living (about $ 136 million over four years) with the Brooklyn Nets, one of the best teams today – but he has been forced to wait at home for the past few months. Not because he was injured or weak, but because he refused the corona vaccination.
Unvaccinated people have a hard time in America’s sport as well as in Germany. In Irving’s case, so difficult that he is not even allowed to enter the home arena of his nets according to current Covid regulations in New York City. Only fully vaccinated people can enter the city at indoor events – this also applies to athletes and music artists. Just a few days ago, New York City Mayor Eric Adams extended the rules. Irving became useless for his employer, home games were taboo for him. That is why his club banned him from the squad just before the start of the current season while he indulged in his indolence. Til today.
Suddenly the Brooklyn Nets need Irving again
Only: In “Today” Irving’s club has given in. This week, the basketball player could finally emerge victorious from the power game. America’s sport will make a bizarre comeback when the Nets play away in Indiana on Thursday. Irving is then to a certain extent the only away player in the NBA: He can compete anywhere – except at home and in Canada, where the rules in Toronto are similar to those in New York.
The fact that the Nets are rehabilitating Irving now, of all times, is not due to the franchise’s do-gooders, but rather to the lack of staff. All of a sudden, Brooklyn needs him, because half of the troop was recently quarantined because of Corona. “Our squad is badly decimated and I have to make a decision so that we can continue to win games,” said club manager Sean Marks. In consultation with the team and the coaching staff, Irving is now back as a part-time professional – unvaccinated, but tested daily.
The player himself wrapped his personal triumph on his return to training in unctuous words: “I was aware of the consequences of being kicked out, but I wasn’t even remotely prepared for it,” said Irving, a little crosswise. He just wanted to play. He tried not to look at the matter too emotionally and to put myself in the shoes of the club and my teammates. He realized that he couldn’t be part of the team “if I wasn’t vaccinated”. But it can be.
Amazingly, the Nets didn’t even try to change his mind. It is “not the time” for vaccination debates, says Marks, “when I talked to Kyrie, it was more about family issues, we have to find each other again”. So trust-building measures, the virus is also raging in the NBA, in which 97 percent of professionals are considered vaccinated, but the Omikron wave is currently forcing numerous active people into isolation. The Nets were temporarily missing ten actors, including leaders Kevin Durant and James Harden.
Only two of the star trio: Kevin Durant (left) and James Harden no longer have to completely do without their congenial partner and vaccination refuser Kyrie Irving.
(Photo: Vincent Carchietta / USA Today Sports)
Between the years, three games of the team were postponed due to acute corona circulation. Apparently the need is so great that the club would rather reactivate half an Irving than none at all. While there was still speculation about his departure or even the end of his career in the fall, coach Steve Nash thinks it’s “great that we have him back – he’s an incredibly good player”. Irving is now “abroad and we’ll see how he fits in”. And at home, “we’re back to normal,” says Nash. As normal as this phrase is.
Brooklyn is rehearsing the role backwards, the statements of the past have apparently fizzled out under the Christmas tree. Club boss Marks had said about Irving’s suspension in October: “It’s his decision, but he can’t be a full team member with us.” The fact that he is it again, at least when driving away, is also due to prominent advocates in the dressing room. Durant and Harden are said to have campaigned for his return. “Did you see him play?” Durant recently asked reporters. “He’s a master, he’s a high-minded player.” What was meant was his alertness on the pitch.