Jonathan Isaac, sidelined since tearing his left ACL in the 2020 NBA bubble, resurfaced as a speaker in the Myrtle Beach of the ReAwaken America Tour by Clay Clark. “Viewing it, it seemed forced. It seemed that there was so much pressure in doing it,” he mentioned explaining once more his decision to refuse the vaccine against COVID-19, “I don’t see the wisdom in putting something into my body that’s not going to stop me from getting the virus or transmitting it. That is why I decided to be the only player on my team to not get vaccinated.”
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Isaac, 24, had also gained attention in the NBA bubble for the 2020 Playoffs. He was the only player refusing to kneel in a demonstration of solidarity after the murder of George Floyd. He even wrote a book titled “Why I Stand” to explain his decision. Appearing in a tour labeled as pro-Trump and encouraging extreme conspiracy theories can be considered part of the book promotion and marketing.
As the Brooklyn Nets stare down the fact that their season is on the verge of coming to an abrupt end, coach Steve Nash said he is not thinking about what might have been had Nets guard Kyrie Irving been vaccinated against COVID-19 before the season. "I don't think about it," Nash said. "That's not realistic. It's not a worthy exercise. We deal with what's in front of us. We deal in reality. And our reality is the one we're facing and if you don't face that reality with honesty and presence you're not going to get anywhere."
"I don't think about that," Nets guard Bruce Brown said. "I still support Ky and his decision. He lived with that decision, so I don't think about that at all."
Irving's response came after he was asked what his message would be to people who have followed his story -- specifically those who acknowledge that he had every right to take the stance he took but say his choice put the team in a much less advantageous position, especially as the playoffs begin. The Nets come into their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Boston Celtics as the seventh seed following a regular season in which Irving's vaccination status hung over the organization. "I can't address everybody, but as we move forward in time I know that I made the right decision for me," Irving said.
"It's a great feeling when you know during uncomfortable times you can really lean in on different individuals despite their role in different sectors or different places in our organization or things that they stand for," Irving said. "And some people stood by me in public, some people stood by me in private and I'm OK with both. Some people disagree with me in public, some people disagree with me in private. It doesn't really bother me as much as it did in the beginning of the season, because everything was just so new."
The Sixers suggested and offered to get him fully vaccinated. They never forced it, just encouraged it. It was difficult for Thybulle to let teammates know he would be unavailable.
The Philadelphia 76ers will take on the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and defensive specialist Matisse Thybulle will be able to play in only the Sixers' home games. Unvaccinated foreign nationals are currently prohibited from entering Canada, and Thybulle is not fully vaccinated. Limited exemptions to the rule no longer apply to professional athletes, and as such, coach Doc Rivers said Sunday that Thybulle would be "ineligible" for Games 3 and 4.
Thybulle, after the 76ers' 118-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons Sunday, said he was raised in a "holistic household" and declined to become fully vaccinated. He said he did feel the need to get one shot last season but did not go through with any more, saying "I felt like I had a solid foundation of medical resources that could serve me beyond what this vaccine could do for me." "It was not the outcome that I wanted," he said. "It's always hard to not be available."
Kyle Neubeck: Thybulle: “This was a decision i made a long time ago…I was raised in a holistic household, anti vax is not a term that was ever used…we grew up with Chinese medicine and naturopathic doctors.” Says he has had to reconsider and look at situation differently
On a March 29 episode of TSN’s OverDrive, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated seemingly put all that uncertainty to rest, revealing that two of the four are, in fact, unvaccinated – Brown and Horford. (H/T ProCity Hoops) “The variable in all this is, who can play in Toronto? Like, the Celtics have some unvaccinated guys. My understanding is, Jaylen Brown is unvaccinated, Al Horford is unvaccinated. Now, that can still change. There’s still enough time left in the season where, if they decide to get the vaccine, they will be eligible to play in a postseason game in Toronto. But, the Celtics are not the Celtics without Jaylen or Al Horford, and I’m certain they don’t want to go up to Toronto in that situation.” Mannix stated that, according to his knowledge, neither Brown nor Horford is vaccinated. And while there is still time to change that, as of now, neither is eligible to play in Toronto.
He was unable to accompany his teammates to Canada for Thursday’s game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19. But while many were surprised by his absence, this possible scenario is far from surprising to Thybulle and the Sixers. As of Jan. 15, players need to be fully vaccinated to the enter Canada. The Sixers had discussions about that keeping from playing in some games in potential playoff series with the Raptors. “We mentioned a lot of us benefit, me and [reserve swingman Fukan Korkmaz] probably benefit [from his absence], but it’s not about that,” Danny Green said. “We want to win. We know we’re better with you. We were just like, ‘We know we might play this team in the playoffs. So what do you think? You know we respect your values.‘”
“We’ll handle that when it comes,” coach Doc Rivers said of Thybulle’s first-round availability. “We don’t know who we are playing yet. We’ll just handle that when it comes.” Rivers was asked if there’s any optimism that things will be different two weeks from now. “I won’t even...” he said before stopping in mid-sentence. “We’ll find out in two weeks. We’re just going to handle it when it comes.”
A league source told PhillyVoice that as of yet, there has been no indication that Thybulle's position has changed on receiving the vaccine. It is presently unknown whether the likelihood of this playoff scenario and any public blowback Thybulle might face — in addition to pressure from teammates in the locker room — will ultimately sway him to get vaccinated.
Tim Bontemps: Adam Silver says that there is no change coming in terms of unvaccinated players being allowed to play in Toronto. Silver said the league is going to follow the laws, and that is the status of the situation in Canada. Also said players have known the rules for quite some time.
Jay King: Asked about his vaccination status, Jaylen Brown pointed out he missed the playoffs last year. He said he’s “ready to play against anybody” in the playoffs, implying he would be able to play in Toronto. But he said he won’t comment on his vaccination status or anyone else’s.
Keith Smith: Brad Stevens asked by @Toucherandrich if every player on the Celtics is eligible to play in Canada: "I know where this is going. We've said from Day 1 that we will not comment on vaccination status." Stevens said: "I know that's not the exact answer you are asking for."
When asked directly within the past 24 hours if their teams are fully vaccinated, both the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers declined to comment to ESPN -- opening the possibility that both teams could potentially be missing players in road games of a first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors. Entering play Wednesday, the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Celtics and 76ers are within one loss of each other at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, meaning they could wind up in any order between now and the end of the regular season on April 10.
Sources told ESPN that Williams is vaccinated, while Tatum said back on Celtics media day that he was vaccinated, but that no one should be judged for choosing not to be.
"I'm standing for freedom," Irving said. "So that's in all facets of my life. There's nobody that's enslaving me, there's nobody that's telling me what I'm going to do with my life, and that's just the way I am. If I get tarnished in terms of my image and people try to slander my name continuously, those aren't things that I forget. I haven't forgotten anything that anybody said. I don't read everything, but I definitely read some things that put my family's name in a certain position that I believe are unfair.
Nick Friedell: Kyrie: "The point of this season for me was never to just take a stand. It was really to make sure that I'm standing on what I believe in, in freedom. Freedom. I don't think that's a word that gets defined enough in our society."
Nick Friedell: Kyrie: "Tonight my presence out there was just bigger than the basketball game. I was just representing a lot of individuals that are out there in a similar situation as me. And now that I can play, I think we should be opened up for everybody."
"I've been discriminated against. People have said things that have been biased. They've gone against their own morals. And where we're living today, I have such a strong moral code of just being honest, being truthful, following God's guidance and just living with the results. But in terms of that, I'm a servant. I'm comfortable being in that position."
Stefan Bondy: I asked Kevin Durant about long process of mandate lift: "It’s no crying over spilled milk. But I’m not naïve to the fact that the Mets and Yankees have a lot of power in our City. I’m sure when they all helped and had conversations, they were able to push it over the top."
New York City's mayor exempted athletes and performers from the city's vaccine mandate following weeks of pressure from the sports world after the rule kept Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving from playing in home games and was expected to block several baseball players from taking the field in their upcoming season. Mayor Eric Adams, speaking at Citi Field where the Mets play, said Thursday that he had signed the order. The exemption was effective immediately.
"I'm going to make some tough choices. People are not going to agree with some of them." Adams said. "I must move this city forward." Adams contended that making the athletes and performers exempt was important for the city's economic recovery, saying "players attract people to the stadium."
Adams had said he felt the vaccine rule was unfair when it came to athletes and performers because a loophole in the measure, imposed under his predecessor, allowed visiting players and performers who don't work in New York to still play or perform even if they are unvaccinated. Irving, a vaccine holdout, had been among the most high-profile people impacted. He was able to re-join the team in January but only when they played road games. When New York lifted rules several weeks ago requiring a vaccine to dine in a restaurant, work out at a gym or attend a performance, Irving was allowed to watch the Nets' home games but not play or enter the locker room. The Nets need him as they push for a playoff spot with nine games left in their regular season.
Joe Tsai: 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Let’s work together to bring jobs and our New York economy back!
Brian Lewis: Kevin Durant on Kyrie potentially being allowed to play sat home: “Yeah I don’t think it’s official. Just been hearing rumors and stuff. So once it’s official, I can speak on it." #Nets NBA
Nick Friedell: KD and Kyrie didn't want to get into detail about what they expect to hear from Eric Adams tomorrow -- but they were both wearing big smiles walking out of the locker room. KD on Kyrie: "He just turns our whole team around when he's out there. Hopefully we get some good news"
New York Mayor Eric Adams reiterated that while he remains optimistic about the COVID 19-related numbers he's seeing, the city's professional sports teams are going to have to wait their turn as far as potential vaccination-mandate rollbacks are concerned. "Right now, we're going to take some complaints," Adams said during a Tuesday morning news conference announcing that masks will be optional for day care students between the ages of 2 and 4 starting on April 4 if the COVID numbers hold. "But when this is all said and done, people are going to realize this is a thoughtful administration and we got it right. So baseball, basketball, businesses, all of those things, they have to wait until that layer comes."
"We're going to do it in the right way," Adams said. "We're going to follow the science ... we're going to make the right decision. And in New York, no matter what you do, this is 8.8 million people and 30 million opinions, so you're never going to satisfy New Yorkers, so you must go with the logic, your heart and the science." For Adams, that means he will continue to listen to his medical team and doesn't sound likely to be swayed by any of the professional teams that might be impacted. The Yankees' home opener is April 7, the NBA play-in tournament starts April 12 and the Mets' home opener is April 15.
Durant called out New York City Mayor Eric Adams by name after a March 13 win over the New York Knicks, on the same day Irving, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, sat courtside at Barclays Center, but could not play in the game because of the city's mandate. Durant acknowledged what many in the Nets organization have known for months, and that Irving himself has made clear since returning as a part-time player on Jan. 5 -- he will not be getting the shot. "I mean, what is it, April almost?" Durant said. "It's pretty obvious that he's not going to take the shot. So like I said, just focus on who you are and what you bring to the team every day and once that situation gets figured out, then it will. It's out of my control, it's out of everybody else's control. So you can't force anybody to do anything. So just try to just focus on me."
Kevin Durant says Kyrie Irving is "frustrated" that he still cannot play Nets home games because of New York City's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, but also thinks Brooklyn's championship window extends beyond this season regardless of when his star teammate returns on a fulltime basis. "He's frustrated in not being able to play," Durant said after Monday's shootaround. "He figured this stuff would be rolled back by now, we'd be way past this. But it's the situation we're in, we got to deal with it, he's got to deal with it. Trusting that it'll get figured out there soon. I have no clue what may happen, but I'm just trusting that things will work itself out. But I'm sure he misses playing in front of a home crowd and the home crowd, vice versa, they miss him. So hopefully we get it figured out soon."
Protestors rallied outside Barclays Center on Friday in support of Kyrie Irving. While it’s uncertain if any more demonstrations are planned when the Nets play host to the Jazz on Monday, or in the immediate future, it’s clear the situation continues to be divisive. The protestors held signs that read “Wake Up New York” and “Brooklyn Loves Kyrie.” Others ripped up Nets tickets along with photos of Mayor Eric Adams, angered that he hasn’t repealed private sector vaccine mandates that bar the All-Star from playing home games. Adams hasn’t offered any timetable and city health commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan was equally vague Friday. “I think it’s indefinite at this point,” Dr. Vasan said. “People who’ve tried to predict what’s going to happen in the future for this pandemic have repeatedly found egg on their face, as they say. I’m not going to do that here.”
Nick Friedell: Kyrie says he’s still confident that the vaccine mandate in NYC will get rolled back and he’ll be able to play at Barclays this season. He also says he plans to attend tomorrow’s game — and jokes he’ll wear a media pass.
Nick Friedell: KD "Me and Kyrie had conversations about the vaccine and what it meant to him, meant to me. At the end of the day I didn't think it was my decision on what he wanted to do with the vaccine. I gave him how I felt about it and we talked about it, but that's ultimately his decision"
Magic Johnson: Kyrie Irving put on a dazzling show against Orlando tonight scoring 60 points! 🔥🤯 I sure hope the vaccine mandate ends in NYC in time for the Playoffs so we can watch him play in every Playoff game. He is unreal!!
The Hill: @SenTedCruz: "Let Kyrie Irving play. If Brooklyn won't let Kyrie play, I'm going to make a pitch to you directly. Kyrie, come to Houston, play for the Rockets. We'll let you play. He's a hell of a player. Uncle Drew's being benched by asinine Democratic theater. This is stupid."
Stefan Bondy: Spoke to a City Hall spokesperson and the Yankees and Mets fall under the same private sector mandate as Kyrie Irving and the Nets. No difference because it's an outdoor sport. Spokesperson cautioned that things could change by Opening Day.
Kyrie Irving: No Fear. Use me God.
Chris Milholen: Mayor Eric Adams’ response to a heckling fan asking about Kyrie Irving playing at Barclays Center. “Listen, you’re right. Kyrie can play tomorrow. Get vaccinated.”
Howard Beck: "Kyrie Irving can play tomorrow -- get vaccinated," says @NYCMayor .
Anthony Puccio: On NBA Today, Woj said there’s “optimism” around the Nets, league office, and players association that Kyrie Irving will be full-time.
Kyrie Irving’s out-of-town residency status does not exempt him from any New York City vaccine mandates, the Daily News has learned. An Adams administration official told The News that Irving, the Nets’ unvaccinated superstar guard, will still be covered by the city’s private employer vaccine mandate even when the Key2NYC requirement for indoor spaces is set to be lifted on March 7. He will not be able to play in games at Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden — unless he manages to get a religious or health exemption from the private employer mandate.
Nick Friedell: Nash says nobody in the organization has had any communication with Kyrie about getting the vaccination. He’s made his stance clear and the Nets aren’t pushing him on it.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that he wants to see Kyrie Irving playing home games at Barclays Center but making an exception for the Brooklyn Nets' unvaccinated star guard "would send the wrong message" to the rest of the city. Adams made his comments to CNBC and added that he has spoken with Nets owner Joseph Tsai about the issue.
"Listen, I want Kyrie on the court. I would do anything to get that ring. So badly, I want it. But there's so much at stake here. And I spoke with the owner of the team. We want to find a way to get Kyrie on the court, but this is a bigger issue," Adams said in the interview with CNBC. "I can't have my city closed down again. It would send the wrong message just to have an exception for one player when we're telling countless number of New York City employees 'If you don't follow the rules, you won't be able to be employed.'"
The Daily News obtained a memo sent to NBA teams ahead of the start of the season. The spirit of that memo? NBA teams do not have the option to pay to break the law. “Pursuant to the local orders set forth above, if a player is on an impacted team, unvaccinated, and does not have an approved bona fide medical or religious exemption (the determination of which will be made by the league office), he will not be allowed to enter their home arenas or practice facilities in these jurisdictions or participate in any games, practices, or other team activities conducted there,” the memo read. Kyrie Irving is allowed to practice at the Nets’ Training Facility in Industry City because New York City deemed the building a private office space, subject to vaccine requirements set by ownership, not The City.
Shams Charania: New York City will lift Key2NYC vaccine mandate on March 7, assuming numbers stay on track, per Mayor Eric Adams. But: I'm told the private sector mandate still restricts Kyrie Irving from playing in home games, although he could enter Barclays Center as spectator.
Nick Friedell: Kyrie said he really appreciated Adam Silver standing up for him in regard to the NYC vax mandate: “My respect level for him went to a whole new level ... he took one for the team.”
Brian Lewis: Kyrie Irving on mayor Eric Adams’ comments on loosening vaccine mandates: “I'm glad that things are kind of settling down and there's light at the end of the tunnel here and hopefully I can get back on that home floor and playing in the Barclays.” #Nets
Of course, most Nets fans had their fingers crossed after Adams took office ... hoping that the former NYPD officer-turned politician would change the mandate that prevents Irving from playing home games for the Nets, but allows his opponents to play. Adams admitted recently the current vaccine mandate is "unfair" to Kyrie ... but said changing a rule that's already been set in motion would send "mixed messages."
"I am really, really, leery about sending the wrong message. Having the city close down again keeps me up at night," Adams told reporters at a conference. Of course, Adams' comments were all in good fun -- after all, the Nets are probably better off. The mayor has since changed his tune on COVID-19 from a few weeks ago ... announcing he has a plan to end New York City's vaccine mandate for indoor spaces like the Barclays Center -- which, of course, is great news for Nets fans. Adams told reporters he "can't wait" to get rid of the mandate -- a far cry from his initial stance -- and changes could happen "in the next few weeks."
That’s right, Kyrie Irving could suit up for the Nets at home this season. According to NY Daily News reporter Chris Sommerfeldt, New York City is close to phasing out COVID-19 vaccine mandates. He tweeted NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ excitement to getting the dropping the vaccine mandate for indoor spaces “in the next few weeks.”
Chris Sommerfeldt: “Yes, and I can't wait to get it done," @NYCMayor says when asked if he has a plan for phasing out COVID vaccine mandates for indoor spaces in the city, adds that he foresees an announcement on something related to this "in the next few weeks." Traducir Tweet
Chris Haynes: Minnesota Timberwolves announce that effective immediately, “fans attending games at Target Center will not be required to wear a mask while inside the arena. This immediate action follows the City’s lifting of the mask mandate announced this morning.”
Shams Charania: New York City has a plan to phase out the vaccine mandate in the coming weeks, Mayor Eric Adams says, at which point Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving would be cleared for home games. Spokesperson adds that current rules remain in place.
Mike Vorkunov: NYC Mayor Eric Adams came closer today to saying he'll get rid of vaccine mandate & phase out vaccine passport. Adams: "Yes, I can’t wait to get it done... I’m not going to get ahead of the science because I’m ready to get ahead of all of this & get back to a level of normalcy." pic.twitter.com/6Kr9DtOjkd
Brian Lewis: Sean Marks on optimism of seeing Kyrie Irving playing home games this season: "I have to be optimistic, like everyone here." FWIW, Chicago is dropping their mask and vaccine mandates at the end of the month. #nets #nba
Ken Mauer, one of the longest-tenured referees in NBA history, says he was forced out of the league at the beginning of the current season because of his religious objection to the COVID vaccines. During a wide-ranging, two-hour interview on “Fearless with Jason Whitlock,” Mauer, a 36-year veteran known for his slicked-back, Pat Riley-style hair, revealed the reason for his season-long absence.
Mauer, a lifelong Catholic, has done his own research and has concerns and reasons for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, including his belief that aborted fetal tissue was used in the development of the vaccine. (Many experts dispute Mauer’s contention. Pope Francis has endorsed use of the vaccines.)
“I’m not ashamed of what I’m doing,” Mauer said in the interview that will air early Tuesday evening. “In fact, I’m very proud of what I’m doing. I’m very proud of my faith. … I’m no different than the truck driver, than the schoolteacher, than the health care worker, than the person working construction or whatever. They either medically or religiously don’t feel ike taking the vaccine, and now they’re being forced to or else they’re going to lose their job. And I think that’s a shame.
Tim Bontemps: Adam Silver says he isn’t sure what will happen with New York City’s vaccine mandate, but says that he continues to see other mandates and regulations easing across the country. Said he expects any decision to be made to be based off New York’s case rates of COVID-19.
Emma G. Fitzsimmons: Mayor Eric Adams, asked if he’d change vaccine rules for Kyrie Irving, says he thinks the rules are “unfair.” He says “honestly I’m struggling” over what to do because it’s not fair for hometown teams to face different rules than visiting teams.
Eric Koreen: In a statement, MLSE says it hasn’t determined whether or not its facilities will still mandate full vaccination in coming games. Says decision will be made "based on further discussions with public health officials."
Nick Friedell: Kyrie says he doesn't feel guilty when he's away from Nets. "There's no guilt that I feel. I'm the only player that has to deal with this in New York City because I play there. If I was anywhere else in another city then it probably wouldn't be the same circumstances."
Dave Early: "C'mon now puppeteers...there's no guilt that I feel, I'm the only player that has to deal with this in NYC 'because I play there. If I was anywhere else ...then it probably wouldn't be the same circumstances." -Kyrie Irving on vax mandates. pic.twitter.com/wx7PPMMVVd
Asked whether he felt Irving's part-time status had an impact on Harden's decision to push for a trade, Durant said, "I wouldn't know." "There's obviously going to be rumors about that," Durant said. "Kyrie has always been an easy scapegoat for everybody, especially for the media and the fans, they love to use him as a scapegoat for a lot of problems. So it's easy to blame him, but I can't speculate on how James is feeling. I know a lot of the media will put that on him."
General manager Sean Marks, whose sinking team executed the blockbuster trade of James Harden on Thursday, shortly before losing its 10th consecutive game, also sounds hopeful the unvaccinated Irving eventually will be able to participate in home games in Brooklyn. “The decision on the [New York City] mandate, that’s obviously far above my pay grade and not something that I’m overly concerned about now,” Marks said Friday. “I mean, I think we’re always going to be optimistic.
“I just look around the world and I see things are changing, whether it’s the mask mandates, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and then you’ve got entire countries who are changing their outlook on Omicron and COVID and so forth. So again, far bigger discussion. My hope would be that by the time we roll around the playoffs, if not sooner, the world looks like a different place and the more people that are vaccinated and so forth and we’re moving on.”
Kristian Winfield: Eric Adams on NYC vax mandate: "We have to adhere to what we put out. ... if the rules of you being employed means vaccinated and you're not, that is a decision you're making not a decision we're making as a city. I say don't quit on New York. Take your vaccine and booster shot."
Scott Agness: Justin Holiday will be eligible to play in Sacramento. There is not a vaccine mandate for residents like there is in San Francisco or New York City. Holiday is unvaccinated and plans to remain that way.
An NBA championship may or may not hinge on the 32-year-old Holiday, but he's the perfect example of the added stress on front offices to do their due diligence. Beyond availability, non-vaccinated players have to go through extra steps through the various protocols. "I don't track it via a spreadsheet," one front-office member said. "But it's generally brought up briefly, and you move on [from that player]."
While a team can break down a player's stats from a central database to gauge their value, there's no such official anti-vax list. "I don't even know if Ben Simmons is vaccinated," one Western Conference executive said. Teams tend to be notoriously risk-averse. Add this item to the list of reasons why a deal may not get done.
