Nets' Kyrie Irving won't be able to play at Barclays Center despite NYC lifting vaccine mandate

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday that the Key2NYC mandate will be lifted on March 7, meaning indoor dining, and fitness and entertainment venues will no longer require proof of vaccination for attendees.

The Brooklyn Nets' guard, Kyrie Irving, was expected to play in home games at Barclays Center following the lifting of the city's vaccine mandate, but new reports claim he won't be able to due to the private sector mandate. Although he'll be able to attend home games as a spectator, the private sector mandate for large employers will still restrict him from playing, as reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

NYC Mayor lifts vaccine mandate

Mayor Adams didn't touch on the private sector mandate in his Sunday announcement, but he did say he's hopeful schools will be able to remove mask mandates by March 7 as classes resume on Monday. Regarding the mask mandates for schools and the Key2NYC mandate, Adams said the final decision will be made on Friday, March 4, hoping the low-level of risk continues.

Nets (32-29) are currently the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference as Kevin Durant is sidelined with injury and Ben Simmons has yet to make his season debut. In 15 games since returning to play, Irving is averaging 25.1 points, scoring a season-high 38 on Saturday against defending champions, Milwaukee Bucks.