Unvaccinated athletes like Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving will be able to play home games again.

Kyrie Irving will be able to join his Brooklyn Nets teammates on the homage of Barclays Center again without being vaccinate against COVID-19 .

Mayor Eric Adams announced this morning that vaccine restrictions involve performer and athlete will be face-lift in New York City today , allowing unvaccinated players like Irving to play home biz again .

The decision sham the NBA as well as other sports like the Major Baseball League and the National Hockey League , which means unvaccinated instrumentalist on the New York Knicks , Brooklyn Nets , New York Yankees , New York Mets , and New York Rangers will all be permit on their family court withoutrisking hefty fine . It would also allow NYC - base melodious creative person to do concerts in their hometown ; natter athletes and performers were already exempt from the mandate .

kyrie irving

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" This is about position New York athletes on a level playing field , " said Mayor Adams during a news group discussion at Citi Field , ESPNreports . " We were deal our performers otherwise because they live and play in New York City . "

The vaccine mandate will still apply to other categories of workers , including teachers , sports stadium worker , law officer , and fire-eater . When interview about why athletes and performers earned specific exemption , Adams noted the unlike policies for athletes and performer who were residents versus visitant , adding that they " have an outsized impact on our economy . "

cristal continued to encourage Irving to follow the metropolis ’s former policy just last week . " Kyrie , you should get vaccinated , " the Mayor said . " This does not change my message that everyone should get vaccinated . "

Irving has been by far the most high - profile jock on a New York sports team to talk out against required vaccination . His determination not to get vaccinated was met with far-flung criticism , but other famous basketball role player have been vocal about the vaccine authorization before today ’s news . AsTheNew York Timesnotes , Kevin Durant told reporters that Mayor Adams was only " looking for attention " by enforcing the vaccinum mandate , while Lebron James vent his frustration on Twitter , where he said that it " make absolutely zero horse sense " not to let Irving play . James fetch up the tweet off with a # FreeKyrie hashtag .

hug drug did not egest the possibility that vaccinum exemptions for athletes could be pulled back in the event of another COVID outbreak in New York City .