Kyrie Irving: People dealing with ‘real consequences’ from being unvaccinated

No participant within the NBA confronted the daunting actuality of vaccine restrictions like Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving.

After being sidelined for dwelling video games at Barclays over his unvaccinated standing, Irving desires to ensure all unvaccinated staff in New York are granted the identical freedoms.

“I’ve been saying from the start with all this, it’s by no means been nearly me, and any particular privilege or exemption,” Irving stated, as relayed by OutKick / HoopsWire’s Sam Amico.

Kyrie and unvaccinated athletes in New York have been cleared to play by Mayor Eric Adams; nevertheless, staff taking part on the gamers’ dwelling venues should nonetheless abide by a non-public sector ruling that prohibits unvaccinated folks from working.

“I feel there are lots of people coping with actual penalties from being unvaccinated. And I don’t suppose it’s talked about sufficient when it comes to our important staff and folks on the frontlines, and it’s simply it’s a complete neighborhood of us that basically wish to stand collectively,” Irving stated. 

“And although I’m very appreciative of Mayor Adams doing what he did, and everybody in our Nets group, everybody sending in notes to the mayor and tweets or Instagram posts or wherever you name it,” he added. 

NYC MAYOR OFFICIALLY EXEMPTS ATHLETES, PERFORMERS FROM COVID VAX MANDATE

Irvin has performed 21 of 74 video games (all away contests) for Brooklyn this season and can lastly play at his dwelling court docket on Sunday in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets.

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket throughout the recreation in opposition to the Miami Warmth on February 12, 2022 at FTX Enviornment in Miami, Florida.
(Photograph by Joseph Guzy/NBAE through Getty Photos)

The Nets guard comes again at an important time of the 12 months as Brooklyn sits because the East’s eighth-seed staff with solely seven video games left after their recreation in opposition to Charlotte

“You recognize, now could be the time to actually get all of us included and get everyone again to work so we get some normalcy round right here. However I do know everyone nonetheless feels it, and there’s a complete neighborhood of people who have misplaced their jobs because of this mandate as effectively. And I’m simply placing care out for them most significantly, and standing alongside of them,” he stated. 

FILE – Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving strikes the ball throughout the first half of an NBA basketball recreation in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday, Might 16, 2021, in New York.
(AP Photograph/Frank Franklin II, File)

When energetic, Irving has averaged 27.7 factors, 5.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per recreation.

Comply with alongside on Twitter:@AlejandroAveela