Kyrie Irving highlighted just how nonsensical the mandate keeping him from playing at home is on Sunday, as he sat courtside to watch Kevin Durant score 53 points, and even joined his team in the locker room at halftime.
Unvaccinated players like Irving are restricted from playing in New York City, part of a private sector mandate that is still in place even after Mayor Eric Adams removed the mandate that kept unvaccinated fans from attending games. That means that Irving can be on the court in the Barclays Center – he’s just not allowed to be wearing a jersey at the time.
In Irving’s case specifically, there’s no scientific reason why he should be ineligible to play but eligible to attend a game – and Durant personally called out Mayor Adams after the game.
“I don’t get it. It just feels like, at this point now, somebody’s trying to make a statement or a point to flex their authority. Everybody out here looking for attention and that’s what I feel like the mayor wants right now. Some attention. But he’ll figure it out soon. He better.”
Kevin Durant on Kyrie Irving not being able to play at home:
"We're all confused. Pretty much everybody in the world is confused at this point. Early on in the season, people didn't understand what was going on but now, it just looks stupid. Eric, you gotta figure this out." pic.twitter.com/t8aBEBEZEA
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) March 13, 2022
[mm-video type=video id=01fxx7hffn2z4b9vr0fc playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fxx7hffn2z4b9vr0fc/01fxx7hffn2z4b9vr0fc-d86b5e715a89c508f8b7c17b6098a9f2.jpg]
[listicle id=43959]