Nets' Kyrie Irving may return to home game play

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - Kyrie Irving's yearning to play Brooklyn Nets home games may soon be satisfied, NBA insider Shams Charania said on Thursday.

Sources said New York City on Thursday will change the private sector vaccine mandate to allow exemptions for athletes and entertainers, Charania tweeted.

Under this possible change, Irving, who is not vaccinated for COVID-19 and is only allowed to watch his teammates from the courtside, may be cleared to play home games.

If the mandate changes, unvaccinated players for the New York Yankees and Mets baseball teams will also be cleared to play.

The New York City mayor's office had previously announced changes to pandemic restrictions allowing people to attend indoor events such as NBA games even without masks or proof of vaccination, but there is an active private sector mandate requiring employees to be vaccinated to work in buildings.

The mandate had raised some eyebrows, with fans and the media saying it is unfair for players to only be allowed as spectators but not allowed to take part in games.