The Brooklyn Nets picked up another win on Sunday afternoon, beating the New York Knicks 110-107 to extend their winning streak to three games. Kevin Durant led the way with a season-high 53 points, but his brilliant performance wasn’t the only headline.
That’s because Kyrie Irving, who is still not allowed to play home games at the Barclays Center, was in attendance for the first time all season. He showed up late in the first half and took his place on the court as a fan. However, at halftime, he snuck into the locker room, resulting in the Nets being fined $50,000.
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The Brooklyn Nets have been fined $50,000 for violating local New York law and league health and safety protocols during the team’s March 13 game against the New York Knicks at the Barclays Center, the NBA announced today.
The breach occurred when the Nets allowed Kyrie Irving, who was in attendance at the game, to enter the team’s locker room.
Earlier this month, on March 7, masks and the mandate to vaccinate were lifted in the New York City public sector, meaning unvaccinated people like Irving are now allowed in enclosed spaces like bars, restaurants and arenas. As a result, Irving was able to attend the game as a fan.
However, he is still not allowed to play because New York City’s private sector mandate to vaccinate remains in place. To work for a company based in New York, you must be vaccinated. Although Irving was allowed to enter the building, he was a paying customer there, not an employee. When he entered the locker room, he technically went into a work environment, which is not allowed and resulted in a fine from the NBA.
From a health standpoint, it doesn’t make much sense that Irving can enter a building without a mask and watch the game from the side of the court, but he can’t play. The Nets and Irving apparently tried to prove it by having him appear at a nationwide televised game, with stars such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant expressing their dissatisfaction with the rule.
It is unlikely that New York City Mayor Eric Adams will make any changes anytime soon. He fired more than 1,000 city workers in February for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine and doesn’t want to create a loophole for Irving. When criticized over the situation at a press conference over the weekend, Adams suggested that if Irving wanted to play, he should get vaccinated.