Could Kyrie Irving Really Be In the Running for NBA All-Star Game Pick?

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Issues relating to Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving’s NBA status have taken something of a bizarre turn with talk of the 29-year-old potentially selected in the NBA All-Star game despite being ruled out of action due to his COVID-19 vaccination status.

Irving has refused to get vaccinated, which means he’s barred from participating in matches in New York City (and in some other locations), and the Nets have left him out of their plans until he changes his stance. Therefore the idea he might get a run out in the All-Star game would appear to send a variety of wrong signals.

It’s worth noting that the Nets are managing just fine without Irving, with Steve Nash’s side sitting top of the Atlantic Division with a 9-4 record, and are well worthy of their status as the favorites with just about any online sports betting comparison site with the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers and in-form Golden State Warriors close behind.

The ballots for the All-Star game have been sent out, and all players on the rosters are included, even those who are not in action (for whatever reason). It remains to be seen if Irving would get the requisite votes, but he could do.

Half the votes come from fan accounts and the other half from current players and media pundits. Indeed the vote may well be hijacked by those seeking to make the situation political, and that’s entirely possible. Earlier this season, hundreds of anti-vaxers attempted to storm the Barclays Center, and Irving has become something of a cause célèbre for many.

Irving has made the NBA All-Star game on seven previous occasions, and if he’s picked, it could lead to a rather awkward situation for all concerned.

The chances of Irving back-tracking are slim, and incoming New York City mayor Eric Adams has made it clear that he won’t do so either;

“New York City’s not going to change their rule,” Adams stated.

“Again, it’s up to the NBA and Kyrie Irving to come to a full understanding on how to keep him on the Nets and continue to look at all of our athletes that are coming here. And again, I think the NBA and Kyrie [are] going to come to a conclusion on this.

“I’m a Nets fan … and I love Kyrie. I think he’s a piece we need for a championship. [But] this is something that the NBA has made an agreement with. If they’re going to perform in the city this is an agreement they made. I believe that it’s up to the NBA and Kyrie to come to an understanding of how they’re going to get through this. And I believe they can come to a resolution.”

Fortunately for Irving, the All-Star Game will be taking place in Cleveland, where no such mandate would prevent him from participating, and that may well lead to the event becoming a media circus for reasons that go way beyond basketball.