With the omicron variant currently going through multiple teams across all sports, we’re getting to the point where some teams might need to look to sign any warm healthy body to suit up and play.
The Brooklyn Nets have been without star player Kyrie Irving this season due to his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and as a result would violate New York City’s ordinance about having to be vaccinated in order to go to various places indoors. This might sound like an oxymoron to bring back an unvaccinated player as cases are climbing but that seems to be happening.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets are looking to bring back Kyrie for away games taking place outside of New York City. According to Woj, “injuries, players lost to health and safety protocols and an inordinate minutes load on their superstar players led the team to this move.”
Irving was always able to play in away games outside of NYC, he just couldn’t play in home games. But given that was a sizable chunk of the schedule, it was something the Nets didn’t want. Now, it seems like the situation has changed.
If Irving comes back, he will be able to play in 24 of the remaining 27 away games of the Nets’ season. The Nets have two games against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and a game against the Toronto Raptors and Canada is prohibiting unvaccinated people from entering the country starting in January. So Kyrie can’t play in those games.
In order to come back to the Nets and practice with the team, Irving must test negative five consecutive days. Once he does, he can return and will be required to test every day.
The news has taken NBA Twitter by storm as even with some Kyrie, the Nets get even better. It’s still a long way to go so don’t give Brooklyn the title just yet, but their chances to win have certainly gotten better.
https://twitter.com/KingJosiah54/status/1471964574521823233?s=20
https://twitter.com/joshnsanchez/status/1471975159200366599?s=20
How Kyrie coming back to practicepic.twitter.com/vsdoeziTHr
— Randy Cruz (@randyjcruz) December 17, 2021
We really adding Kyrie Irving to the number one team in the East?? pic.twitter.com/YnxltFKfg9
— Cody Mallory (@RealCodyMallory) December 17, 2021
Kyrie coming back for his next ring like pic.twitter.com/49CBcPK6Cw
— Talkin’ Nets (@TalkinNets) December 17, 2021
[ESPN]
About Phillip Bupp
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.
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