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Brooklyn is perched atop the Eastern Conference despite not having gotten a single second on the court from Kyrie Irving.
But there is at least some hope that could change.
While Irving hasn’t played so far this season due to his refusal to comply with New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates, there is reportedly renewed optimism that he could return at some point in 2021-22, according to The Athletic.
“If we get the gift of his return, we’ll be ecstatic, but we can’t count on it,” Steve Nash said recently about an Irving return. “We can’t wait for him. We have to get to work, and get better, and our group’s been awesome this year.”
In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, the city instituted a mandate on large indoor gatherings, gyms, arenas, etc., requiring at least a single vaccine dose. And up to this point, the 29-year-old Irving has steadfastly refused to adhere to it.
That has left Irving ineligible to play home games at Barclays Center. The Nets got the city to classify HSS Training Center as an office rather than a gym, thus facilitating Irving’s ability to at least practice at home.
After he refused to meet them halfway and even get a single vaccine dose — much less get fully vaccinated and take a booster — the Nets announced in October that they wouldn’t let him be a part-time player and suit up just on the road. That has left them without the services of their seven-time All-Star, putting added burden on Kevin Durant and James Harden.
But there does at least seem to be what The Athletic termed “renewed optimism around Irving returning to the Nets this season.”
The report doesn’t go into exactly how that would happen. Obviously Irving could get at least a single vaccine dose, and meet the city’s mandate (on Dec. 27 players will have to be fully vaccinated under new mandates). Or with new mayor Eric Adams taking office on New Year’s Day, the city could loosen it’s mandate, thus making the unvaccinated Irving eligible to play home games.
The third option is the Nets relenting and allowing Irving to indeed be a part-time player, practicing and playing only road games.
The notion of the city loosening it’s mandate strains credulity, especially with cases climbing due to the Omicron variant and Adams having been even more pro-vaccine than his outgoing predecessor Bill de Blasio. Adams indicated in November he wouldn’t change the mandates.
As far as Irving doing a heel-turn and relenting, the Nets had fully expected him to get vaccinated before training camp opened, but he shocked many inside the organization by abruptly declining. GM Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai opted against letting him be a part-time player to avoid a distraction.
The Nets are 19-8 overall, with a 1 ½-game lead over Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference entering Monday. Their 11-3 mark on the road is the first time they’ve ever been eight games over .500 on the road in team history.
Still, the Nets players have publicly and privately insisted they want Irving on the floor and will take him back with open arms. The Athletic report claims Durant and Irving have been breaking down games together and talking about life in general and playing together again.
DeAndre’ Bembry, who is close with Irving and is a fellow alum of St. Patrick’s in Elizabeth, N.J., said he checks in with Irving and expressed confidence he’ll get through whatever he’s dealing with.
“I try to give him his space, because I know he’s one of those people that needs his space sometimes to collect his thoughts and his energy and stuff,” Bembry told The Post. “I definitely sent him a couple messages over this time to just check up on him, make sure he’s good. I know he’s good, I know he’ll figure this out and get through it.”
A recent report sourced “people close to” Irving saying the vegan point guard could be swayed whenever a plant-based vaccine gets approved. There is one from a Canadian company currently going through clinical trials, and the company aims to get approval in Japan by March 2022. Based on past precedent, a three-month timeline could theoretically be feasible here.
Getting back Irving — who is believed to have been working out and keeping himself in good shape — would instantly make Brooklyn the title favorites.
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