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Joseph Zucker is the featured Columnist IV for the Brooklyn Nets.
AP Photo/Tony.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving entered the NBA's health and safety protocols.
The seven-time All-Star has yet to play this season because of his failure to adhere to New York City's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. He can play for the Nets in states without vaccine mandates if he wants to, but he can't play at home.
The team will welcome Irving back Friday after placing a number of players in the league's health and safety protocols.
Saturday's news went beyond the steps Irving needed to get clearance to play.
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The Nets said that if Irving was testing to return to the team, he wouldn't have entered the health and safety protocols. He has returned a positive test, which requires 5 days of negative tests for unvaccinated players.
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Irving will need to test negative for COVID-19 for five days before he can practice.
Rolling Stone's Matt Sullivan reported in September that he had doubts about the vaccine. Sullivan was told by his aunt that he might not be able to attend home games.
Irving wouldn't say if he'd get vaccine at his individual media day ahead of the regular season.
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Is Kyrie Irving going to get a vaccine?
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I like to keep it private. There's a lot of questions about what's going on in the world of Kyrie, but I'd like to keep that stuff private.
The Nets have the best record in the Eastern Conference. They earned their fourth straight win Thursday over the Philadelphia 76ers, but will be short-handed for Saturday's game against the Magic.
The Nets governor told the New York Post that they were trying to be practical. I don't want to make this a political issue, my only religion is to win games and win the championship. That is where we are.
Brooklyn's present situation was mentioned by Tsai. The Nets announced on Saturday that Irving became the ninth Nets player to enter the health and safety protocols.
Irving won't be giving the short-term relief the franchise wanted.
