NBA Commissioner Adam Silver: NYC vaccine mandate ‘doesn’t quite make sense’

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Nets guard Kyrie Irving has yet to play at the Barclays Center this season, barred from playing in home games due to New York City’s vaccine mandate.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the rule "doesn’t quite make sense," during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up Wednesday morning. The rule, while it disallows unvaccinated Nets players from suiting up, invites unvaccinated players from opposing teams to play.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

NBA commissioner Adam Silver looks on during a game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 20, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

"This law in New York, the oddity of it to me is that it only applies to home players," Silver said. "I think if ultimately that rule is about protecting people who are in the arena, it just doesn’t quite make sense to me that an away player who is unvaccinated can play in Barclays but the home player can’t. To me, that’s a reason they should take a look at that ordinance."

It certainly is puzzling, as there’s zero difference in a home player and an away player playing while unvaccinated. Why it’s even mentioned in the ordinance to begin with creates more questions, as Silver said.

With New York City under new leadership in recently sworn in mayor Eric Adams, Silver expressed optimism that the mandates might loosen up. Silver, a New York native himself, cited the increasing amount of people going out in the city in recent months.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) looks to pass the ball between Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) and guard Stephen Curry during the first half