It is official: Kyrie Irving will miss the Brooklyn Nets’ first home preseason game because he remains unvaccinated.
The star point guard was listed as “ineligible to play” by the Nets for Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Barclays Center.
While the vaccine is not required by the NBA, players must comply with local mandates and under New York City’s guidelines Irving would not be allowed to play until he receives his first vaccine shot against COVID-19.
The Nets had spent the early portion of their training camp in San Diego, home city of owner Joseph Tsai, but returned to New York this week where Irving has been unable to practice.
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Irving remains one of the few NBA players unvaccinated but he is certainly the highest profile player to not receive the shot. The fact he could continue to miss his team’s home games once the season starts has only amplified the attention on him as it directly impacts the Nets’ goals as a team.
While the NBA has not mandated players receive the shot, it has incentivized players like Irving to do so. Any player who does not play because he fails to comply with local vaccine mandates will be docked pay.
Irving could lose nearly $380,000 per game if he remains unvaccinated.
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