NBA
Nets manager respects Kyrie Irving's vaccination choice
Kyrie Irving has been forced to separate from the Nets until he gets his Covid 19 vaccination. Manager Sean Marks to focus on players on the court.
It was recently announced that Kyrie Irving is banned from playing or practicing with the Brooklyn Nets due to his refusal to get vaccinated for Covid 19. The state of New York prohibits any person from entering an indoor gym unless they have at least one dose of the vaccine.
Because of this mandate, Irving is not allowed to play in any home games. Legally, he could still play the away games, with the exception of San Francisco, which also has a vaccine mandate. However, Marks said he does not want a part-time player on the team.
"We're not looking for partners that are going to be half-time," said Marks. "I don't think that would be fair, not only on the team, staff, ownership, and fans, but to be quite frank, not fair on Kyrie either."
Getting vaccinated a personal choice
Though Marks made the decision to ban Irving from the team until he gets the vaccination, he stresses that it was a personal choice for the player. "We respect the fact that he has a choice, he can make his own, and a right to choose."
He also said he hopes to see Irving back on the court at some point and that they would "welcome him back with open arms, under a different set of circumstances."
The Nets have been the favorites to win the championship this season, but without a major player in their big three, they will be a little more limited. However, Marks says the goals haven't changed and the focus is still on being the best.
"We need to focus on the 16 players that are going to be on this roster moving forward with us."