REPORTS: Kyrie Irving Might Not Play for Brooklyn Nets Despite Removal of NYC Mandate

Kyrie Irving is one of the most theatrical and show-stopping players in the NBA. The way he dribbles past his opponents for an easy finish creates a spectacle for viewers. In fact, his dribbling and scoring ability makes him one of the most unstoppable players in the NBA.

Added to this, his resume contains an NBA title which he played a big part in winning. So it’s no surprise that the Nets partnered him up with Kevin Durant, and newly acquired Ben Simmons. With the trio in hand, the Nets aim to win the NBA title. But this seems difficult considering Irving’s away game availability.

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However, the removal of the NYC mandate could allow Irving to take part in home games as well. Clearly, if this happens and the Nets remain healthy, they could see themselves being one of the favorites to lift the title. However, recent news has revealed that ‘Uncle Drew’ may not be able to become a full-timer for the Nets, despite the plans to phase out the mandate.

Will Kyrie Irving Still Be Absent for Home Games?

Although the NYC mandate could be lifted soon, Irving may not be available for home games. This is due to a private employer mandate under which the Nets fall. To add fuel to the fire, the mayor of NYC doesn’t plan to tweak the private employer mandate either.

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So it seems as though the Nets may not play at their full potential after all. If Kyrie were to continue to play away games only, then there is an added responsibility on Ben Simmons to score as well. Furthermore, the load on Durant will also increase. He will have to step up and provide for his team as much as possible.

In Conclusion

As the second half of the season closes in, the Nets will need to win as many games as they can. And this is only possible as long as they have all hands on deck on all occasions. This is especially true since the Eastern Conference is filled with strong teams like the Bucks, 76ers, and the Bulls. The Nets will have to go through at least one of them in order to get to the finals. So the absence of Kyrie makes this much harder. Clearly, things don’t look good for the Nets in light of the private employer mandate. And maybe the super team might just be an experiment after all.