Adam Silver has responded to the notion that Kyrie Irving being held out of games due to New York City’s vaccination mandates is “unfair”.
In simple terms, he isn’t having a bar of it.
“It’s indiscriminate in terms of who it impacts,” Silver said on Monday. “And I think it’s perfectly appropriate that New York and other cities have passed laws that require people who both work and visit arenas, to be vaccinated.”
Silver was then asked if he believes it’s “fair” that Irving can’t play at Barclays Center but an unvaccinated Bradley Beal could as a visitor.
“I think it’s appropriate that New York and other places have made the vaccination mandatory for those working in their location,” he responded.
Silver said he hoped Irving would ultimately decide to get vaccinated, adding that he would’ve preferred that the NBA Players’ Association agreed to mandatory vaccinations.
Silver also said he hadn’t heard anything about the possibility of New York City relaxing its vaccination mandate in the future.
The Brooklyn Nets will play their first game of the regular season without Irving when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.