Admittedly, it was an awkward sight. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn’s All-Star guard, nay, the Nets’ healthy All-Star guard, sitting courtside at Barclays Center, watching Brooklyn squeeze out a win over the Knicks on Sunday. Irving was there because New York lifted its vaccine mandate, freeing the unvaccinated player to attend a game at Barclays. He wasn’t in uniform because the city’s private sector mandate, still in effect, prevented it.
It’s goofy, right? Irving can breathe the same air as 17,000 fans but not play in front of them? On the ABC broadcast Doris Burke called the sight of Irving sitting courtside “visual absurdity.” On social media LeBron James blasted out a tweet of support. After the game Kevin Durant, visibly frustrated, said Irving being forced to sit out “looks stupid” and called on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to “figure this out.”
“I don’t get it,” Durant said. “I just feels like at this point now somebody’s trying to make a statement or a point to flex their authority. But everybody’s looking for attention, and that’s what I feel like the mayor wants right now, some attention.”
