Kevin Durant: Brooklyn Nets relieved to have vaccine mandate behind them as Kyrie Irving readies for home debut

MIAMI — Kyrie Irving is finally allowed to play at home games inside Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets couldn't be happier about it.

New York City mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that the mandate for unvaccinated athletes and performers has been lifted, clearing the way for Irving, who hasn't been able to play in the city all season, to make his home debut Sunday night against the Charlotte Hornets.

«It's a long time coming,» Nets star forward Kevin Durant said. «It's an exciting time for Brooklyn Nets fans and New York fans to see one of our own back on the floor at home. It means a lot to our team, happy to have him back, and look forward to finishing the season strong. I'm glad this is all behind us.»

After saying on Wednesday how much he was looking forward to speaking to reporters once the mandate had been lifted, Irving declined to comment to reporters after Friday's practice. Durant spoke for many within the organization Friday saying that he was happy to not have to deal with the questions about Irving's decision anymore, while acknowledging that the push that the New York Yankees and New York Mets made towards Adams and the city helped the Nets get their star guard back on the floor full-time.

«There's no crying over spilled milk. It is what it is,» Durant said of the way things have played out this year. «But I'm not naive to the fact that the Mets and the Yankees, they have a lot of power in our city. I'm sure once they all helped and had conversations with whoever they needed to talk to, it was able to push it over the top. So sports is a huge factor in a lot of these major cities and I'm glad we can get things done for everybody to move forward. I know New York City fans are excited about it.»

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