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KD: I'm not going to force him to get a vaccine.
Kevin Durant doesn't want someone to get vaccine, but he would like to have Kyrie Irving play in every game.
12:24 AM
Kevin said he hasn't had any discussions with his teammate about getting a vaccine that would allow him to play in every game this season.
Irving returned to the Nets' lineup on Wednesday in a win over the Indiana Pacers, but is still not able to play in home games because of the vaccine mandate in New York City.
"I told him how important he is, how much I want him to play, and he didn't play in the game." I'm not going to force someone to get a vaccine. So he can play a sport? I'm not going to do that.
We've talked about wanting him to be a part of the team, but that's on his time. He's going to make whatever decision he wants. It's up to us to do our jobs, no matter what. All of us, from the owner down to the equipment manager, will be ready whenever he's ready.
The Nets have lost four of their past five games and have given up an average of 118 points over that time. When asked if he had gotten an explanation from Irving as to why he didn't get the vaccine, he said he hadn't asked for one.
"I have not asked for an explanation," he said. I don't think so. I'm ready for anything, that's been my whole mentality. I have to still be me, still represent the way I am. I want to do whatever my team needs me to do.
It's a weird situation, who knows? I don't understand a lot of this. The last few years have been crazy. I try to stay focused on myself. I trust that when Kyrie is ready to make his own decisions, he will.
Nets guard James Harden said that it wasn't strange to play without Irving again on Friday after playing with him in Wednesday's win.
Harden said it wasn't strange. It was good to have him back. It felt good. It felt like we had more time. We have to figure ways to win at home games. Ky's on the road with us, so he's not going to be easy for us as well. We have to find ways to win games and teams feel like they have something to prove when they step on the floor. We have to bring that mentality to them.
The same refrain was echoed by the same player and he didn't want to use Irving's absence as an excuse.
"I don't think so because we've been playing the majority of our games without him," he said. We're professionals. We are veterans. We're supposed to know how to adapt. We've been playing without him all season so one game shouldn't ruin us.
The reality for the Nets is that they are currently 10-10 at the home of the team and 14-3 on the road. It might be easier to get up for road games now that the Nets know that Irving will join them in most of them, but that's not true according to KD.
Nets coach Steve Nash said prior to the game that they wish they had him all the time, but they are happy that they have him half the time.
"I hope it's not that way," Nash said of the idea of being more excited for road games with Irving. I don't know if our guys take a break to think about if we're home or away, but I think it will get their juices going to the building on the road. I don't think they're sitting at home and not having fun with their friends.
In the context of the Irving situation with the Nets, Antetokounmpo was asked how he would deal with a similar situation on his own team.
"I feel like I can talk to them when it comes to basketball," Antetokounmpo said. It's a personal decision like that. I have to let them make their decision. They are grown men. Every situation is different. I can't force someone to do something that they don't like doing. I can tell you why I did it. Why I was comfortable doing it. To protect my family, to protect my mom, and you just hope he understands that. I can't keep pressing him if he doesn't want to do it.
I have to focus on myself and come every day and do my job, because that's what I get paid to do. I don't know what relationship they have. They probably talked to him, but they can't keep pushing him to do something he doesn't like because it takes so much energy and takes away from basketball. That's why we're here.
Tim Bontemps was a contributor to this report.
