Brooklyn Nets BAN star Kyrie Irving, 29, from ALL games and practices with the NBA team until he gets vaccinated

 Faced with the prospect of playing home games without unvaccinated guard Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets have decided to completely sideline the NBA All-Star until he receives the injection or a permanent solution can be reached.

Irving was expected to miss home games this season due to New York's vaccine mandate. However, in addition to playing on the road, he would have been allowed to practice in Brooklyn because the team's training center is considered a private workplace and not a public arena.

Unfortunately for Irving, the Nets are now saying that he will not be playing or practicing with the team for the foreseeable future. It remains unclear if the 29-year-old will get vaccinated, sit for the entire season, or if the team will trade him to a club that isn't facing a mandate. 

Faced with the prospect of playing home games without unvaccinated guard Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets have decided to completely sideline the NBA All-Star until a permanent solution can be reached

Faced with the prospect of playing home games without unvaccinated guard Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets have decided to completely sideline the NBA All-Star until a permanent solution can be reached

'Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant,' read the statement from general manager Sean Marks. 

'Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.'

Marks told reporters on Tuesday that the decision was made by himself and team owner Joe Tsai after several meetings with Irving and his representatives. 


It's unclear if Irving will be paid at all for the games he missed. He already stood to lose $381,000 for every home game he missed this season. Nets spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. 

The NBA and the players' union have agreed that players will lose 1/91.6th of their salary for every game missed without proper cause this season. If that formula is applied to his entire season, he would stand to lose more than $31 million of his $34.9 million salary. 

Currently Irving stands to lose $15.5 million if he's held out of all home games this year. 

On Tuesday, in response to the news, senator Ted Cruz suggested his hometown Houston Rockets could trade for Kyrie Irving: 'The @HoustonRockets could use a point guard...'

Nets owner Joe Tsai
Nets GM Sean Marks

The decision was made by Nets owner Joe Tsai (left) and general manager Sean Marks (right)

The statement stressed the team's efforts to build chemistry among Nets players

The statement stressed the team's efforts to build chemistry among Nets players

Irving had been mysteriously absent from some ticket sales promotions and team advertisements in recent weeks. He, James Harden (right) and Kevin Durant (left) were expected to form the core of an NBA-title contender this season

Irving had been mysteriously absent from some ticket sales promotions and team advertisements in recent weeks. He, James Harden (right) and Kevin Durant (left) were expected to form the core of an NBA-title contender this season

The statement stressed the team's efforts to build chemistry among Nets players.

'It is imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-established values of togetherness and sacrifice. Our championship goals for the season have not changed, and to achieve these goals each member of our organization must pull in the same direction. 

'We are excited for the start of the season and look forward to a successful campaign that will make the borough of Brooklyn proud.'

Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins said he felt 'forced' to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or he would run the risk of getting pushed out of the league

Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins said he felt 'forced' to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or he would run the risk of getting pushed out of the league

Irving had been mysteriously absent from some ticket sales promotions and team advertisements in recent weeks. 

He, James Harden and Kevin Durant were expected to form the core of an NBA-title contender this season.  

NBA players are not required to be vaccinated, but the overwhelming majority are. As recently as late September, the league reported a 95 percent vaccination rate among players. 

However, due to mandates in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, some players are faced with the prospect of missing games and game checks. 

Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors, who play in San Francisco, reluctantly decided to get vaccinated because of the situation. 

'It feels good to play, but getting vaccinated, that's going to be something that stays in my mind for a long time,' Wiggins said. 'It's not something I wanted to do, but I was forced to.'

The 26-year-old applied for a religious exemption with the NBA but was denied, and thus risked forfeiture of nearly half his $31.5 million salary for the 2021-22 season if he didn't receive the vaccine. 

Senator Ted Cruz (Texas, Republican) suggested that the Rockets could trade for Kyrie Irving

Senator Ted Cruz (Texas, Republican) suggested that the Rockets could trade for Kyrie Irving

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