Kyrie Irving had his best game of the season on Saturday night, dropping a season-high 38 points in a 126-123 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and it is possible he could soon be suiting up for the Nets at the Barclays Center just in time for the playoffs.
Following Mayor Eric Adams' comments that he is considering phasing out vaccine mandates in New York City, Irving expressed optimism about putting the vaccine stuff behind him and playing in Brooklyn again.
"I'm glad things are kind of settling down and there's light at the end of the tunnel here," he told reporters after the game. "Hopefully, I can get back on that home floor playing int eh Barclays and now we can finally have that conversation that you've been dying to have just about turning the page and moving forward beyond this.
"But like I said, I'm not the only one. I feel for everybody that's either in my boat or a similar boat or have dealt with some type of trauma from this. And just wishing everybody well-wishes, always."
Irving remains ineligible to play at Barclays Center because he is unvaccinated.
His decision not to get the vaccine originally cost him a spot on the team earlier in the season, but the Nets later softened their stance and let him rejoin as a part-time player who would play in road games.
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Adams, who was sworn in as the city's new mayor in January, had been adamant about keeping the vaccine mandates, which were put in place by former mayor Bill DeBlasio.
Yet, Adams has since reconsidered as cases continue to drop following the spread of the omicron variant and COVID-19 moving toward becoming endemic.
"I'm following it as much as you guys are," Irving said. "So just remaining patient and just seeing where things end up in this next week or so, next two weeks, I'm not too sure, but I know as much as you do. And I want to say this — is that I'm very appreciative of all those that are pushing behind the scenes to make our world a better place."
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