Nets hit with $50,000 fine for letting Kyrie in the locker room

The Brooklyn Nets home game against the New York Knicks was the first in which one of their best players, Kyrie Irving, was even allowed to enter the court.

Contradictory protocols causing frustration amongst Nets

Vaccine policies in New York City were some of the strictest, and Irving, who is unvaccinated, has not been allowed to play in any home games all season, nor even enter into the stadium. The vaccine mandate was recently lifted for fans attending the game, but not for staff. So Irving attended the game as a fan, sitting in the stands amidst cheering fans.

Even with the changed protocols, Irving still violated the city's health and safety protocols by entering the locker room at halftime. Head coach Steve Nash had said he was confused about the paradoxical nature of the rules. The team has now been fined $50,000 for the violation, which they enacted by permitting Irving into the part of the stadium considered a workplace rather than the stands, where fans are allowed.

The Nets have been understandably frustrated at this limitation, as it allows unvaccinated opponents to play in their home arena, but not their own player. Kevin Durant was extremely vocal about his dissatisfaction about the nature of the city's rules, and called on the mayor to make changes in his post game interview, saying Mayor Eric Adams was just flexing his authority at this point.

The team later released a statement from Durant, which expressed a little bit more understanding for the situation, but still stated his concerns. "I do appreciate the task the Mayor has in front of him with all the city has been through. 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."