NBA Fines Brooklyn Nets for Letting Unvaccinated Kyrie Irving in Locker Room; Kevin Durant Has New Message for NYC Mayor

The Brooklyn Nets will have to pay thousands of dollars for allowing Kyrie Irving into their locker room during Sunday's home game in New York City.

According to Associated Press via ESPN, the NBA on Monday fined Irving's team $50,000 for letting him go inside their locker room during the game at Barclays Center, which he was unable to play since he was unvaccinated for COVID-19.

"The Brooklyn Nets organization has been fined $50,000 for violating local New York City law and league health and safety protocols during the team's March 13th game against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center," the NBA said in a statement.

According to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Irving was allowed to enter the arena, but not the workplace environment. He noted that the locker room was considered part of the Brooklyn Nets' workplace environment at the Barclays Center.

On Sunday, Irving arrived unmasked to take his courtside seat and watched his Brooklyn Nets teammates beat the New York Knicks at Barclays Center. But after the game, he walked off arm-in-arm with Kevin Durant toward the locker room.

New York City's Vaccine Mandate Violated by Brooklyn Nets After Kyrie Irving Allowed Into Locker Room

On March 7, Mayor Eric Adams has relaxed New York City's public sector vaccine and mask mandates, allowing unvaccinated persons like Kyrie Irving to enter public spaces such as clubs, gyms, and large venues like Barclays Center.

However, Adams announced that a private sector vaccine mandate which has been in place in the city since December 27, will remain in place. It means that you still must be vaccinated to show up to work if you work for a New York-based business.

Irving has been cleared to attend home games despite being unvaccinated against COVID-19. But while he could enter the Barclays Center, he was still not permitted to play, causing much confusion, both inside and outside the franchise.

Lakers star LeBron James, Irving's former teammate in Cleveland, weighed in Sunday and tweeted, "FACTS FACTS FACTS!! It literally makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE!!! They say if common sense was common then we'd all have it. Ain't that the truth."

Kevin Durant also commented about Irving's situation. He told reporters after Sunday's game that people did not understand and were confused about what was going on early in the season, "but now, it just looks stupid."

Durant also sent a message to the NYC Mayor and said: "Eric, you gotta figure this out."

Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant Issues Statement After Calling Out New York City Mayor

In a statement released by the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Kevin Durant walked back some of his criticism of New York City mayor Eric Adams.

Durant said the last two years were a "difficult and painful time" for New Yorkers, and it was also "very confusing" with the changing landscape of the COVID-19 rules and mandates.

Kevin Durant noted that he appreciates "the task the Mayor has in front of him with all the city has been through," adding that his "frustration with the situation doesn't change the fact" that he will always be committed to helping the communities and cities he lives in.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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