The Brooklyn Nets have told star guard Kyrie Irving that he is not welcome as a member of the team as only a "part-time participant" and is being prevented from joining the team for the 2021-22 NBA season.
Brooklyn GM Sean Marks announced on Tuesday that because New York City has imposed a vaccine mandate for all indoor sports teams who play their games in the five boroughs, he won't allow Kyrie to play only road games, citing team chemistry.
Irving has yet to receive a Covid vaccine.
"Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant," Marks said in a statement released by the team.
"Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability. It is imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-established values of togetherness and sacrifice. Our championship goals for the season have not changed, and to achieve these goals each member of our organization must pull in the same direction. We are excited for the start of the season and look forward to a successful campaign that will make the borough of Brooklyn proud."
Despite his otherworldly talent, Irving has a long list of chemistry issues with the other teams he has played with in Cleveland and Boston.
And the Nets are kidding themselves if they thought they would be getting a different Kyrie after he signed a four-year $136 million contract in July of 2019.
As the adage goes, the ball clearly is in Kyrie's court.
Cover Photo: Getty Images