Kyrie Irving: The Situation and How it Affects the Brooklyn Nets

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The NBA giving its players the choice to follow state guidelines to get vaccinated or remain unvaccinated has had an impact on the league since the decision came down a few months ago. Most of the league has been vaccinated heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, but around 10% of the league has chosen to remain unvaccinated. Players like Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (who would’ve been unable to play at home and some road games) were initially against getting the vaccine at first, but have chosen to get it. Once he is fully vaccinated, he will be able to play games at home and avoid certain restrictions and losing pay for not playing. The biggest star choosing to remain unvaccinated is Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving.

Irving made it clear prior to media day that he wanted people to respect his privacy and decision. In the last couple of weeks, questions have been floating around on if the Nets would allow Irving to play part-time since he would not be able to play in Brooklyn or Madison Square Garden due to New York’s one vaccine shot mandate to enter indoor venues. Because of this, Kyrie is already missing 41 of 82 games, half of the season. Adding missed games in California and potentially other states, Irving could miss upwards of 50 games.

In the last 48 hours, Nets general manager Sean Marks announced that Irving would not be a part of the team until he is available as a full participant. Several people were involved in the decision that was announced. The other Brooklyn Nets stars like Kevin Durant and James Harden were factors in the decision-making process, as well as ownership and management. It was also announced that the Nets would not be offering Irving a contract extension. This has an impact on everything ranging from the team to free agency. This first affects the Brooklyn Nets. Irving’s absence will influence the team’s record. While Durant and Harden are still there, Irving’s absence during crunch time could add a couple more losses to the Nets’ record. Playing less than 55 games during the 2020-21 season (along with KD and Harden each missing significant time), the team still ended up as the second seed in the Eastern Conference and were a literal foot away from making the Eastern Conference Finals. Kyrie missed several games during the second round, and the Nets still went as far as they did. There’s no telling for sure where the Nets will finish come mid-April, but it’s likely the team would still have homecourt advantage come the playoffs.

Irving’s absence could also influence free agency. Looking forward to the 2022 free agency class, two of Brooklyn’s three stars will be free agents. Irving and Harden will both be free agents. While it’s likely both would want to re-sign with Brooklyn in normal circumstances, it’s possible that both could re-sign, both could leave, or one could leave. The odds of the Nets offering Irving another extension before the end of the season are most likely low. In the last 48 hours, there have already been rumors of a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, dealing Irving for Ben Simmons. Those rumors have already been shut down with neither team being interested in the potential asset, as well as Simmons potentially returning to the Sixers soon. Other rumors have surfaced that Philly possibly being interested in James Harden, with President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey having a noted history with Harden in Houston. Only time will tell what happens with Kyrie Irving’s future and the Brooklyn Nets.