The NBA has fined the Nets $50K for allowing Kyrie Irving to enter the locker room during the team’s victory against the Knicks on Sunday, NBA Communications tweets.
Irving was in attendance at Barclays Center, which was not a violation. However, his presence as an unvaccinated player in the team’s locker room violated New York City laws.
Irving was not wearing a mask at the game. Afterward, Kevin Durant urged the city’s new mayor, Eric Adams, to change the law and allow Irving to play home games.
“Eric, you got to figure something out, man, because it’s looking crazy,” Durant said. “Especially on national TV, and he can come to the game, but not play, come on, man.”
Durant backtracked on his comments in a statement released by the team Monday afternoon, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets.
“I do appreciate the task the Mayor has in front of him with all the city has been through,” the statement read in part. “My frustration with the situation doesn’t change the fact that I will always be committed to helping the communities and cities I live in, and play in.”
Unless the rule is changed, Irving will only be allowed to play in four more regular-season games. The Nets have only five road games remaining, one of which will be at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks.
The fact that he could sit front row just shows how flawed this whole thing is
“Flawed” is not the word I would have chosen…..but I applaud you for keeping it clean.
Big difference between the front row and all over you if one is an opponent. The latter is likely to include an exchange of fluids.
The rule is not for the NBA, it just does not exclude it. So what, the NBA. Plenty more want in the game.
The most nonsensical thing I have read on this app
I just hope they match the fine with a donation.
afaik all fines end up as donations. Not paychecks docked for suspensions, but fines. They get pooled and at years end get distributed to charities that are mutually decided upon by the NBAPA and NBA.
DeBlasio might have been the worst mayor in the country.
Not a chance….. Lightfoot is 10 times worse!
Hope KI will not play for an other season just to show off …
I tolerate a lot of ridiculous abbreviations for players but this is too far. Nobody, not even once, has referred to Kyrie using his initials. Unacceptable
Look at his signature shoe logo
Follow the ScIeNCe, durrrrr
No comment about Irving and vaccine because it’s divided, but this dude hasn’t played a full season since Cleveland. He has strange opinions on other things, and has shown that he is not playing basketball for the love it or to be a great player because of his stats.
Yes he’s great and he’d be among the greatest but he lacks what the great ones have.
He’s gonna retire probably in 3 years just because he’s over it.
Right. If it was not the vaccine issue, dude would have found some other reason to not play.
From KI’s POV, he’s just saving himself for the playoffs, reducing wear & tear, while still getting paid.
I dislike “new” initials popping up unrelated to the attached article, but this is following an Irving headline.
The Nets will really aggravate people when/if they make the finals, bc all their iffy ways. KI, holdout Simmons, Durant on-again, the PG that plays inside, the spring buyouts, the mediocre rookie starter, the wrong Curry…
And it’s probable!
I’m surprised no one us mentioned how much money the state of New York has lost in taxes the they don’t get to collect from KI because he isn’t working in the state.
It seems to me that with the ridiculousness of him sitting court side the tax revenue alone is enough reason to make a loophole in the statute to literally let one person play basketball.
I just googled the tax rate in New York and KI’s salary. NY is out about 2 million dollars this season because he can’t play home games.
This entire thing is just laughable at this point.
I wonder if this sets the precedent for Kyrie to play and the Nets pay the fines??
The NBA already made it’s stance known that this is a definite no. Let’s say they change their mind and ok it though. The first fine from the city is $1000 and would escalate for repeat offenses with no mention of what the fine may increase to. Since the Nets have 9 home games left plus any potential playoff games at home that could cost Mr. Tsai quite the pretty penny. There would probably be other consequences if it the Nets blatantly and repeatedly disregarded the mandate.
Let him come as a fan to games un-vaccinated and maskless but he can’t play on the court???
Super obvious double standard with NYC and NBA. I don’t care for Kryie (KI lol) personally, but dam, this is some real stupid sh** going on. Man’s trying to make a living. He can go where he works and exhale into/inside the arena, but can’t work inside? I would not blame NYC teams for playing elsewhere in the country until those pathetic rules are gone.
Why would they do that when it affects only one player?
He chose not to take the shot. NY is bigger than NBA, Nets. or spacecadet Ky. Biggest metropolitan in US.
I thought the biggest Metropolitan was Bartolo Colon
Bro they are saving your life