Posted by Kyrie Irving’s vaccination status has been a lightning rod for conversation in the sports world. With him being unvaccinated, Irving couldn’t play in home games for the Brooklyn Nets due to New York City’s private sector vaccine mandate.
Luckily for the star point guard, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Thursday (March 24) that the Big Apple would be amending its mandate allowing an exemption for unvaccinated professional athletes and entertainers to perform regardless of their vaccination status.
Sources: Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will be cleared for home games as New York City will on Thursday change private sector vaccine mandate to allow exemption for athletes and entertainers in workplace. Unvaccinated Yankees and Mets players also now eligible for home games.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 23, 2022
Freddie Gibbs took to Twitter on Thursday morning and saluted Kyrie Irving for remaining steadfast in his beliefs despite the outside noise and those pressuring him into being vaccinated.
“Gotta respect Kyrie for not letting up,” Gibbs wrote. “I ain’t gon lie I thought it was a wrap if he couldn’t play at home.”
Gotta respect Kyrie for not letting up. I ain’t gon lie I thought it was a wrap if he couldn’t play at home.
— Big ? (@FreddieGibbs) March 24, 2022
Freddie Kane even dubbed a new nickname for Kyrie as the “Vax Lord.”
Kyrie the new #VaxLord
— Big ? (@FreddieGibbs) March 24, 2022
The relaxing of the mandate comes at the perfect time for the Brooklyn Nets, who are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference and trail the Toronto Raptors by 2.5 games while only being a game up on the 9th place Charlotte Hornets with about nine games to play.
Kanye West Salutes Brooklyn Nets Outkast Kyrie Irving For ‘Donda 2’ Stem Player Support
The Nets suffered a fourth-quarter defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night (March 23) despite Ja Morant missing the game and Irving pouring in a game-high 43 points on what was his 30th birthday.
Gibbs isn’t the only artist to show public support for Kyrie, as Kanye West, Chris Brown, T.I. and NLE Choppa have also shown love to Irving throughout the season.
Kyrie’s home debut in front of the Nets faithful will now come on Sunday (March 27) against the Charlotte Hornets at the Barclays Center.