The NBA fined the Brooklyn Nets $50,000 for violating NYC COVID protocols by allowing Kyrie Irving into the locker room.
After being spotted sitting courtside at the Nets-Knicks game over the weekend, Kyrie Irving became a social media sensation.
Despite being able to enter the Barclays Center as a fan, Kyrie was ineligible to participate in the game owing to his lack of vaccination. His appearance infuriated his fellow NBA players, but it appears that the league retaliated against the Nets for Kyrie going too near to his teammates.
The Brooklyn Nets have been fined $50,000 by the NBA for allowing Kyrie to enter the locker room during Sunday’s game. On Monday, the league issued a formal statement announcing the penalty.
The NBA stated today that the Brooklyn Nets organization was fined $50,000 for breaking local New York City law and league health and safety procedures during the team’s March 13th game versus the New York Knicks at Barclays Center.
“The infringement happened when the Nets allowed Kyrie Irving to enter the team’s locker room while he was in attendance at the game.”
Despite overall COVID limitations being relaxed in New York City, Kevin Durant and LeBron James expressed their displeasure with Kyrie being forced to sit out the game. There appear to be private sector mandates that the league must follow, which KD described as “crazy” on Sunday.
Durant told reporter Malika Andrews, “It’s absurd.” “At this stage, someone is attempting to make a remark or make a point in order to demonstrate their authority. There are already people in this building who haven’t been vaccinated.”
Similar sentiments were expressed by LeBron James, who concurred with a tweet claiming that the protocol goes beyond any degree of common sense.
“FACTS!! FACTS!! FACTS!! FACTS!! FACTS!! FACTS!! FACTS!! “It literally makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE!!!” wrote LeBron. “It’s been said that if common sense were common, we’d all have it.” Isn’t that the case? #FreeKyrie.”
The Brooklyn Nets have yet to reply to the fine reports.
