As an American, member of Congress, former New Yorker, and fan of the NBA, I, like so many, have serious concerns regarding the NBA sidelining point guard Kyrie Irving due to the egregious vaccine mandate. As the world came to a screeching halt at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, there wasn’t a soul on the planet who didn’t face a massive change of life, including the professional sports apparatus. At once, stadiums that once held legends such as Jordan, Shaq, Bird, Kobe, and Barkley shuttered their doors, and the future of live sports seemed uncertain. For months, owners, managers, coaches, and players spent countless hours trying to manage the tremendous blow COVID-19 was having on the league, and to the NBA’s credit, it was only a matter of time before James, Durant, Antetokounmpo, Embiid, Jokic, and Curry graced the court again.

The transition from lockdown to the resumption of play did not come without its hiccups — but with the tireless efforts of the NBA and health experts, the game was able to continue in the never-before-done Orlando COVID-19 “bubble.” While this measure seemed to be the most extreme option, this historic step allowed for the continuation of basketball, and as a fan, I was just happy to have basketball back. Finally, the end of this once-in-a-lifetime season came with my Los Angeles Lakers winning the national championship against the Miami Heat on Oct. 11, 2020.