By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
For the first time in the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season, Kyrie Irving played in a home game for the Brooklyn Nets, as part of the latest edition of NBA Sundays.
“Like I’ve been saying from the beginning of all this, it’s never been about me,” he commented on the decision to refuse the vaccine against COVID-19 leading up to the New York City mandate for unvaccinated athletes and performers, “Any special privilege or exemption, I think there are a lot of people dealing with real consequences from being unvaccinated. I don’t think it’s talked about enough in terms of our essential workers and people on the front lines. It’s a whole community of us that really want to stand together.”
Previously supporting his teammates at Barclays Center, the Nets were then fined for letting him in the locker room. From spectator to active player and following 21 appearances on the road since rejoining the Nets in January, his first home appearances resulted in a 16-point, 11-assist double-double. His effort was not enough to prevent the loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
“Not the result we wanted,” he said. “I didn’t shoot it as well as I wanted, but that’s just basketball. I don’t take for granted what happened tonight. I was grateful I had a chance to be out there with my brothers.”
The Nets, guided by Steve Nash, are currently ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, 3.5 games away from a direct ticket to the Playoffs and six games safe in the Play-In zone. Barring an extremely disappointing ending to the Regular Season, the remaining seven games will determine the postseason seeding for the Nets.
“We’re in this spot and we’re picked to be contenders,” he mentioned, “If that’s not a true testament to the talent level we have on this team, I don’t know what is. I appreciate the respect. But honestly, it takes a little bit longer to build that continuity and we’re using these games and practice time, but we’re just going to put our best foot forward and live with the results.”
Peeking beyond the 2021-22 season, he recently hinted at a long-term commitment to playing alongside Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn organization.
“To be honest, I signed up for this for the long run,” he explained, “I love this year. I’m grateful. It has not been the prototypical year. But when I look at my teammates and I look at what we have as an organization, I’m looking for the long run and what we can do, legacy talk.”
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