New York Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that he wanted Carey Irving to play the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, but that the exception for the unvaccinated protagonist for COVID-19 would “send the wrong message” to the rest of the city. .
Adams commented on CNBC, adding that he had discussed the matter with Nets owner Joseph Chai.
“Look, I want Kyrie on the pitch. I would do anything to have this ring. I want it so much. But there is so much at stake here. And I talked to the owner of the team. “We want to find a way to get Kyrie to play, but that’s a bigger issue,” Adams said in an interview. “I can not close my city again. It would send the wrong message that there is an exception for a player when we say to countless New York officials: “If you do not follow the rules, you can not be hired.” »
Adams announced Sunday that, in addition to any surprises, he plans to lift the vaccination requirements in the public sector on March 7. New York City, however, has a separate vaccination policy for the private sector, which states that “Employers may not allow any unvaccinated worker to report to their natural place of work unless they have requested and received an order. ».
Adams acknowledged Monday that the current rule banning Irving from playing home games “does not make sense” as unvaccinated away players are allowed to play games in New York. However, although he believes that the rule as it is written is “ridiculous”, he said: “These are the rules and I must follow them. If I do not, I will open the door that sends the wrong message to the daily employees “.
Irving, who has played Nets on the street, said on Saturday that he could see “light at the end of the tunnel” when it comes to playing home games this season. Irving also said he appreciated the recent comments made by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to ESPN, where he defended Irving, noting that the policy “does not make sense.”
