The Brooklyn Nets do not really have anything to worry about heading into the 2021-22 NBA season in terms of how their roster looks, but they could wind up having Kyrie Irving here and there in practices and games instead of having him present all the time. 

The 7x All-Star is currently unvaccinated against COVID-19 and as a result, he is in danger of missing half the season. Due to New York mandates, to enter a gym like Madison Square Garden or Barclays Center, individuals need proof of at least one COVID-19 shot. However, visiting players and staff members who are unvaccinated are completely fine to enter and play in these arenas. 

Does this rule make sense? No, not really, but these are the rules the NBA are following this upcoming season, which will force Kyrie Irving to make a tough decision. There has been no word on whether or not Irving has submitted a request for a religious exemption, but all-in-all, the proposition seems to be “get the vaccine or do not play in home games this season.” 

This does not really seem like much of a choice whatsoever and as a result, this could wind up forcing Irving to get the vaccine, but as of right now, he is missing practices and sitting out preseason games due to being unvaccinated.

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Brooklyn opens the regular season in Milwaukee on October 19, so Kyrie Irving will be able to play in that game, but leading up to this game, he may not be able to practice with the team at all, per New York guidelines. 

While this sounds like a bad thing, Irving sitting out half the games this season (all of the Nets’ home games) is not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, the Nets will be without one of their star players for at least half the regular season, but there are benefits to Irving being sidelined.