The NBA has fined the Nets $50,000 for allowing Kyrie Irving into the locker room during halftime of the Nets’ 110-107 win over the Knicks on Sunday.
Irving, who is unvaccinated and thus ineligible to play at Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden due to New York City’s private sector vaccine mandate, is allowed to enter the arenas as a spectator but not allowed to work or enter workplace areas. The locker room is considered a workplace area at Barclays Center, and the league hit the Nets with a fine for violating local health and safety protocols.
In related news, Nets star Kevin Durant issued a statement on Monday after he lit into Mayor Adams for the confusing COVID-19 vaccine mandate that restricts Irving from playing home games for the Nets.
“The last two years have been a difficult and painful time for New Yorkers, as well as a very confusing time with the changing landscape of the rules and mandates,” Durant wrote in a statement. “I do appreciate the task the Mayor has in front of him with all the city has been through. My frustration with the situation doesn’t change the fact that I will always be committed to helping the communities and cities I live in and play in.”
Due to New York City’s vaccine mandate — and Irving’s unwillingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in a city once the epicenter of the global pandemic in the United States — the star guard is only eligible to play in four of the Nets’ remaining 14 games.
The All-Star guard is averaging 26 points and five assists per game this season, but has only appeared in 18 games.
