The Brooklyn Nets are 2-3 to kick off the 2021 season, dropping their most recent game by double digits to the Miami Heat and scoring only 93 points. After finishing with the highest offensive rating in the NBA in the 2020-21 season (118.3), they're posting the second lowest figure (100.8) in that category out of the gate this year, and the absence of a key player might have a little something to do with that.
His name is Kyrie Irving, and you'd have to be living under a rock not to know the story about his vaccination stance and the Nets' decision not to have him around until he commits to getting vaccinated and becoming a full-time participant of the team.
It's taken a lot of patience to deal with Irving's absence to this point, but owner Joe Tsai if fortunately full of that.
Tsai added that whenever Irving decides to get vaccinated — or, better said, if Irving decides to get vaccinated — he'll be welcomed back with open arms. Tsai "respects" Irving's stance and decision, according to NetsDaily, but "doesn't really understand it."
What's his reasoning? On Instagram Live, Irving said that he is neither for nor against the vaccine, and it's "just really about being true to what feels good for me."
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Even if Irving remains steadfast in his decision and doesn't return, the core of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Joe Harris is enough for Tsai to remain confident in the Nets as a legitimate title contender.
With that said, it would obviously be nice for Durant and company to get Irving's services back, and KD acknowledged that in a presser earlier in the week.
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