Matthew Bores 

Staff Writer

mdb5896@psu.edu

Eric Adams, mayor of New York, has said that he would love to see Kyrie Irving back on the court in Brooklyn, but has not changed the fact that Brooklyn Nets players need to be vaccinated before playing in home games. He also believes that it would be sending the wrong message to the entire rest of the city if he lets one major sports star get the exemption and not anyone else.

Mayor Adams said, “It would send the wrong message just to have an exception for one player when we’re telling countless number of New York City employees, ‘If you don’t follow the rules, you won’t be able to be employed.” 

This statement came out after Adams announced that if the virus spread rate continues to decline, March 7 looks like the day that, “indoor dining, fitness and entertainment venues,” will not have a masking mandate any longer in New York. He also said that all other mandates would stay in place until the time was right. 

The rule in New York, which Adams disagrees with per ESPN, is that away players do not need to be vaccinated to play in either Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden. He said he would be, “… sending the wrong message to everyday employees,” if he were to not follow the rule. 

Steve Nash, head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, said that no one in the organization including himself have had any discussions with Irving as of recent and that he will let the heads of the organization handle the situation. Irving was noted as being appreciative of Commissioner Adam Silver after his comments on ESPN’s “Get Up”, where Silver said he didn’t really understand the rule that away players don’t have to sit in New York, but home players have to. 

But the Mayor is adamant stating, “We can’t close down again. I can’t have my city close down again.” 

It would be better for fans to see Kyrie Irving finally play with the home crowd behind him, but it still remains to be seen if he will make his home debut anytime soon this season.