The NBA fined the Brooklyn Nets $50,000 on Monday for allowing an unvaccinated player into the team’s locker room.
Kyrie Irving had only watched the team’s game against the New York Knicks on Sunday, but after the team’s 110-107 victory, he joined the team in the locker room to celebrate, a violation of New York City law and league health and safety protocols due to his status of being unvaccinated against COVID-19, according to the league.
“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,” Nets player Kevin Durant said 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.”
Durant blasted Mayor Eric Adams over the city’s private-sector COVID-19 vaccine mandate on Monday, calling the mandate “ridiculous.” He said he did not “get it” because the city lifted the mandate for fans attending the game in the arena.
“It just feels like at this point now, somebody’s trying to make a statement or a point to flex their authority. But everybody out here is looking for attention, and that’s what I feel like the mayor wants right now, is some attention,” he continued. “But he’ll figure it out soon. He better.”
Before Sunday’s game, Adams told a heckler during a press conference that Irving could play “tomorrow” while urging New Yorkers to “get vaccinated.”
Adams said on Feb. 16 that he believes the city’s rules allowing unvaccinated visiting NBA stars to play while barring the same players from home games was “unfair,” but he was reluctant to change the rules because he didn’t want to send “the wrong message” on COVID-19 vaccines.
Irving defended his decision not to get vaccinated, saying in October 2021 that it was a “personal choice.”
In New York City, 86.3% of residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 77.3% are fully vaccinated. Around 36% of residents have received an additional booster dose as of Tuesday, according to New York City’s Department of Health.
