Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving is still holding out from getting the vaccine, which has cost him the ability to play in games in Brooklyn, NY due to some wacky protocol. But despite that protocol, he can attend non-NBA games in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn because … science.
The Duke Blue Devils squared off against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the ACC men’s basketball title game for coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last ACC game, with the Hokies spoiling Coach K’s conference send-off with an 82-67 victory.
Several Blue Devils alumni were in attendance, including Irving, who played point guard for Duke from 2010-2011. Irving was unmasked and is still not vaccinated, yet he blended in with the rest of the crowd and life carried on as if nothing strange or dangerous was happening … which of course, is the point.
The @DukeMBB Brotherhood 😈@RjBarrett6 and @KyrieIrving are in the building for Coach K's final ACC game. pic.twitter.com/GoKYZbBLRn
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 13, 2022
Irving’s absence from home games is becoming a point of contention for his teammates, including superstar forward Kevin Durant. In a postgame conference after the Nets’ 110-107 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday, Durant made it abundantly clear that he finds no reason why Irving should not be allowed to play at the Barclays Center, and even demanded that New York City mayor Eric Adams change the mandates so Irving can play.
"But it just didn't make any sense. There's unvaxxed people in this building already. We got a guy who can come in the building, I guess, are they fearing our safety? I don't get it. We're all confused. Pretty much everybody in the world is confused at this point. Early on in the season people didn't understand what was going on, but now it just looks stupid. So hopefully, Eric, you got to figure this out,” Durant said.
The Nets are currently just staying afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but Irving coming back would greatly assist the Nets in their fight to stay in contention. Maybe Adams will listen to Durant’s plea, but he’s probably too busy trying to make sure that women can play in the MLB.