Nets say Kyrie Irving is ineligible to play amid drama over his vaccination status

Enlarge this image

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving shoots against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series in New York, in June.

hide caption

toggle caption

Adam Hunger/AP

Coronavirus Updates
NYC Becomes Largest U.S. City To Require Proof Of Vaccination For Indoor Activities

The announcement follows a New York City mandate that went into effect last month requiring everyone over the age of 12 to have proof of at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot to use indoor gyms, including the Nets’ own Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Irving dodged several questions from reporters earlier this month about his vaccination status. During a news conference that he attended remotely, Irving told one reporter that he wanted «to keep that stuff private,» adding that he would «handle it the right way with my team and go forward together with a plan.»

Irving could reportedly lose about $380,000 per home game while he’s on the roster as ineligible.

The Nets had hoped that Irving would change his mind about vaccination in time to head off just such a dilemma that would keep him from playing, but ESPN reports that in recent days, «the franchise’s collective patience will be increasingly tested the longer that Irving stops short of committing to join the team on a full-time basis.

• NBA
• Basketball
• New York City