Nets fined $50K for letting Kyrie Irving enter locker room

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA fined the Brooklyn Nets $50,000 on Monday for letting Kyrie Irving into their locker room throughout a recreation wherein he was unable to play as a result of he isn’t vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.

Irving was a spectator at Barclays Heart on Sunday, sitting throughout from the Nets bench for Brooklyn’s 110-107 victory over the New York Knicks. There isn’t a longer a mandate that followers be vaccinated to enter the world, however there’s nonetheless one requiring it for somebody who works there.

So the star guard had a seat within the stands, simply as he did an evening earlier to observe the ACC Match championship recreation. After the Nets recreation ended, he walked off arm-in-arm with Durant, who had scored a season-high 53 factors, towards the locker room.

The league stated in a press release Monday that the Nets violated New York Metropolis regulation and league well being and security protocols by allowing Irving to return into the locker room. In contrast to the stands, the locker room is taken into account a part of the group’s office atmosphere.

Durant spent a superb chunk of his postgame interview calling on New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams to alter the mandate, calling it “ridiculous” that unvaccinated folks may very well be within the enviornment however not play in it. Coach Steve Nash acknowledged throughout his postgame availability that Irving had been within the locker room at halftime.

The Nets launched a press release from Durant on Monday wherein he defined the criticism he directed a day earlier at Adams, who took workplace in January.

“The final two years have been a tough and painful time for New Yorkers, in addition to a really complicated time with the altering panorama of the foundations and mandates,“ Durant stated. “I do respect the duty the Mayor has in entrance of him with all town has been by way of. My frustration with the scenario doesn’t change the truth that I’ll all the time be dedicated to serving to the communities and cities I stay in, and play in.”

Till this week, proof of vaccination was required for followers. Although that mandate has been lifted, there’s nonetheless one in place for these working on the enviornment. The Nets have been already aggravated as a result of that didn’t apply to guests, permitting an unvaccinated opponent to play when Irving couldn’t. They appeared much more pissed off on Sunday, when Irving’s arrival created a scene at a nationally televised recreation.

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