Report: Brooklyn Nets Star Kyrie Irving Returning To Team As ‘Part-Time Player For Games Outside Of New York’

Brooklyn Nets superstar point guard Kyrie Irving has not played in a single one of the Nets’ 29 games this season due to his refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Irving will be returning to the team shortly as a “part-time player” for Brooklyn’s road games outside of the state of New York. 

“ESPN Sources: With the unfolding circumstances of Brooklyn’s season – including injuries, Covid losses and an inordinate minutes load on their superstar players – the Nets are bringing back All-Star guard Kyrie Irving as a part-time player for games outside of New York,” Wojnarowski said.

ESPN Sources: With the unfolding circumstances of Brooklyn’s season – including injuries, Covid losses and an inordinate minutes load on their superstar players – the Nets are bringing back All-Star guard Kyrie Irving as a part-time player for games outside of New York.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 17, 2021

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Irving has started testing for COVID-19, but no date has been selected for his return as of now. The next scheduled road game for Brooklyn is December 23rd against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

In only being allowed to play in road games, it would appear that Irving remains unvaccinated. In order to play in Brooklyn home games or at Madison Square Garden where the New York Knicks play, Irving would need to be vaccinated due to local New York City regulations. 

The drama around Irving began at Brooklyn’s Media Days in September, when Irving participated in his media obligations via video. 

“You gotta make sure you respect the privacy,” Irving said at the time. “I don’t want to create any more drama, that’s not what I’m here for. I’m going to continue to inspire and lead in the right way. Don’t say I never did anything for y’all. I hope y’all enjoyed that.”

Then in October, Nets general manager Sean Marks put out a statement saying that Irving would not be part of the organization “until he is eligible to be a full participant.” 

“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 a 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 sacrifice. 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.”

Irving explained his decision to remain unvaccinated the following day, saying that “nobody should be forced to do anything with their bodies.” 

“What would you do if you felt uncomfortable going into the season when you were promised that you have exemptions or that you didn’t have to be forced to get the vaccine? This wasn’t an issue before the season started,” Irving said in an Instagram video. “This wasn’t something that I foresaw coming where I prepared for it and had a chance to strategize on what was going to be best for me and my family.” 

The Nets have played well without Irving, sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 21-8. Brooklyn has 27 road games remaining on their schedule, with two against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].

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