Kyrie absent from practice amid COVID vax doubts

Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Kyrie Irving absent from Nets practice amid COVID-19 vaccination doubts

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/5/21

It was reported Monday that Brooklyn Nets star guard Kyrie Irving will lose roughly $380,000 per game if he's unable to suit up for upcoming home contests because of the New York City mandate that requires NBA personnel be vaccinated against COVID-19 or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption to enter arenas such as Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

NBA insider Shams Charania tweeted Tuesday that Irving was absent from Brooklyn's latest practice session.

Kyrie Irving did not attend Nets practice today, sources tell me and @Alex__Schiffer. Irving is currently ineligible for home games and practices because of NYC’s vaccination requirement.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 5, 2021

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported last Thursday that the NBA reached a 95% COVID-19 vaccination threshold among players as of that time. San Francisco has a similar vaccination requirement that threatened to keep Golden State Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins out of home games, but Wiggins has since been vaccinated.

It's unclear if Irving believes he will receive a required exemption or one of the shots before Brooklyn hosts the Charlotte Hornets for its first regular-season home game on Oct. 24. Nets general manager Sean Marks suggested last month that all Brooklyn players will be cleared to participate in the matchup against Charlotte by the start of the campaign.

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