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The Brooklyn Nets are ready to enter the 2021-22 NBA season as a title favourite, however there’s one obvious drawback: Kyrie Irving’s ongoing stand towards getting vaccinated towards COVID-19.
Irving, 29, can’t follow or play with the workforce till he complies with New York’s vaccine mandate, the Nets announced in a statement Tuesday. That leaves the 2 sides at an deadlock that does not have a transparent finish in sight, as Irving has given no indication that he’ll yield to the mandate.
Nonetheless, one of many Nets’ different stars, Kevin Durant, is not discouraged in regards to the state of affairs and stays optimistic {that a} answer might be reached.
“I want none of these items would occur, however that is the state of affairs that we’re in,” Durant told reporters Thursday, via ESPN. “Kyrie made his determination on what he wished to do and he selected to do what he wished to do, and the workforce did the identical.
“It is on me to simply deal with me, and do my job, and let these two events deal with that state of affairs. I need our complete workforce collectively, and I need us to be at full power, however generally it do not work out that approach. However I’m nonetheless constructive that issues will work out the very best for each events.”
Durant and Irving each joined the Nets in free company in 2019. The workforce bolstered its championship hopes in January 2021 when it acquired James Harden from the Houston Rockets in a four-team commerce.
Whereas hopes had been excessive that the trio would lead the Nets to their first NBA title, Durant says he would not resent Irving for remaining unvaccinated forward of the upcoming season.
“What’s being mad going to do? We’re not going to vary his thoughts, know what I’m saying? We’ll let him work out what he must do and the workforce work out what they should do,” Durant said Thursday, via SNY.
In an Instagram Live on Wednesday night, Irving informed followers, “I selected to be unvaccinated, and that was my selection, and I’d ask you all to simply respect that selection.”
Later he mentioned, “It isn’t about being anti-vax or about being on one aspect or the opposite. It’s simply actually about being true to what feels good for me.”
The common season begins for the Nets on Tuesday with a recreation towards the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.
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