The Brooklyn Nets have remained patient for changes to New York City’s private-sector vaccine mandate to restore Kyrie Irving’s eligibility to play home games at Barclays Center.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Irving will be cleared to play home games on Thursday as a result of changes to the private sector vaccine mandate to enable exceptions for athletes and entertainers.
Sources: Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will be cleared for home games as New York City will on Thursday change private sector vaccine mandate to allow exemption for athletes and entertainers in workplace. Unvaccinated Yankees and Mets players also now eligible for home games.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 23, 2022
Charania later reported that Irving will make his home debut on Sunday when the Nets face the Charlotte Hornets. The adjustment to the New York City exemption will be in
Kyrie Irving is eligible to make his home debut at Barclays Center on Sunday vs. the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. New NYC exemption for in-town athletes and performers will be effective immediately beginning Thursday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 23, 2022
The situation with Irving being allowed to sit courtside at Barclays Center without being vaccinated and unmasked while his teammates are playing just a few feet away raised questions about the need for an athletes and entertainers exemption. Also, Irving has been eligible to practice at the Nets practice facility despite not being eligible to participate in home games.
“We’re going to do it in the right way,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Tuesday. “We’re going to follow the science. … We’re going to make the right decision. And in New York, no matter what you do, this is 8.8 million people and 30 million opinions, so you’re never going to satisfy New Yorkers, so you must go with the logic, your heart and the science.”
With the start of the MLB season approaching in April, there has been mounting pressure for Mayor Adams. Now, the New York Yankees and Mets will have their unvaccinated players for the start of their season in April along with the Nets having Irving for the playoffs.
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