Kyrie Irving is getting closer to a full-time return but there’s just one issue

Ever since January 5, Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has only played away games. That’s because Irving has refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and New York City law prevents him from playing games in the city. Even though unvaccinated players from other teams can play in NYC.

Anyway, with the Omicron surge going down, mandates seem to be going away once again and according to New York City mayor Eric Adams, that means potentially removing mask and vaccination requirements for locations like indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment venues if things keep trending in the right direction.

New York City’s #COVID numbers continue to go down.

So long as our indicators show a low level of risk and we see no surprises this week, on Monday, March 7 we will also remove the vaccination requirements for Key2NYC — meaning indoor dining, fitness and entertainment venues.

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) February 27, 2022

That means Kyrie could play home games for the Nets, right? Well, not really.

Due to the private sector section within NYC’s mandates, Irving would still be restricted from playing home games (or against the Knicks at MSG).

New York City will lift Key2NYC vaccine mandate on March 7, assuming numbers stay on track, per Mayor Eric Adams.

But: I'm told the private sector mandate still restricts Kyrie Irving from playing in home games, although he could enter Barclays Center as spectator.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 27, 2022

For the Nets, the hope is that with public sector mandates being lifted, the private sector mandates will be lifted not long after that. And as long as that takes place before the playoffs, I’m sure the Nets would be just fine with that.