Just yesterday, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Kevin Durant, James Harden, Sean Marks, and Jose Tsai were going to have a lot of weight on Kyrie Irving’s future.
Per Woj’s report, the team would have to make a decision on Irving’s availability as a part-time or full-time player, as he won’t be eligible to play in home games or at Madison Square Garden this season:
“They all together, they’re going to be part of that decision about whether they’re going to allow Kyrie Irving if he doesn’t get vaccinated, and is ineligible to play home games or play at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. Are they going to let him be a part-time player? Are they going to let him in and out of the lineup the whole season? Miss games in the playoffs that are at home,” Woj said.
“Or are they going to tell him that you’re either gonna be a full-time player, without accepting 40 some odd games this season from you? We don’t want the distraction. We need you to get vaccinated to play. That’s the question that’s hanging over the Nets right now. And Kyrie Irving doesn’t get vaccinated, and that’s the decision they’re gonna have to make. I think there’s a lot riding on Kyrie’s short-term future in Brooklyn but his long-term future,” Woj concluded.
Now, it seems like the team has made its decision. They won’t allow Kyrie to be a part-time player so he’ll be out indefinitely until he decides whether to get the vaccine or the mandate is lifted, according to a statement sent by the franchise:
“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.
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.”
This could seriously hamper the Nets’ chances of winning an NBA championship. Then again, it could be for the best as having a player in-and-out of the lineup may not be ideal for the team’s chemistry.
There’s no denying that Kyrie is one of the most talented and impactful players in the league but the team has made a call. Now, the ball’s on his court.
