The Oklahoman

Nets won’t play Irving until he’s fully eligible

- Jeff Zillgitt

The Brooklyn Nets have taken a drastic step to compel All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to get the COVID vaccine.

Irving won’t play or practice with the Nets “until he is eligible to be a full participan­t,” Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said a statement released Tuesday morning. He added, “we will not permit any member of our team to participat­e with part-time availabili­ty.”

New York City has a vaccine mandate that states Irving and other Nets and New York Knicks players must be vaccinated to play at Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden.

The Nets faced a scenario in which Irving would play road games but not home games – a suboptimal situation for any team but especially a team with the talent (Kevin Durant, James Harden) to win the NBA championsh­ip.

Instead of that in one game, out the next scenario, the Nets have decided to play without Irving unless he becomes vaccinated.

“Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberati­on, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participan­t,” Marks said in the statement. “Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participat­e with part-time availabili­ty.

“It is imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-establishe­d values of togetherne­ss and sacrifice. Our championsh­ip goals for the season have not changed, and to achieve these goals each member of our organizati­on must pull in the same direction. We are excited for the start of the season and look forward to a successful campaign that will make the borough of Brooklyn proud.”

The Nets open the season Oct. 19 at Milwaukee, and unless Irving takes steps to receive the vaccine soon, he will not be on the court for that game.

The Nets made the right decision. While Nets coach Steve Nash said on Sunday the team understood Irving would not be available for certain games, he indicated Irving would play in certain road games.

But the Nets eliminated the scenario, and it’s best for the franchise and Irving’s teammates. The part-time situation would not have been good for the Nets. They are a better team with him than without him, but the inconsiste­nt nature of his availabili­ty prevented the chemistry Marks referenced and the possibilit­y of resentment from teammates when the Nets lost games they could’ve won with Irving were too much to ignore.

The Nets are aware of the short- and long-term ramifications. Irving, one of the league’s most gifted players, can become a free agent after this season and was in line to sign an extension before the season started. That extension – along with the Nets’ future with Durant, Irving and James Harden – is in jeopardy, and trading him now is a nonstarter.

Marks is right. It’s Irving choice, but that choice comes with a consequenc­e.

 ?? BRAD PENNER/USA TODAY SPORTS ?? Nets point guard Kyrie Irving warms up before Game 5 of a first-round playoff game last season.
BRAD PENNER/USA TODAY SPORTS Nets point guard Kyrie Irving warms up before Game 5 of a first-round playoff game last season.

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