Irving: Some people say ‘Go get the shot’. No, it’s not as simple as that for me in my life

Kyrie Irving hopes to be able to play at Barclays Center this season.

Per ESPN,Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving remains hopeful that the New York City vaccination mandate will eventually get overturned and he will be able to participate in home games this season.

Irving, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, has not been able to play for the Nets inside Barclays Center and will not be able to play again with his team until Feb. 26 in Milwaukee since the Nets have three more home games during that stretch and a road game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

“It will look good when we see some more pieces out there,” Irving said after the game. “With that being said, I still wish I could be out there at home. And some people say it’s as simple as, ‘Hey, go get this, go get the shot.’ No, it’s not as simple as that for me in my life, but ultimately still praying for a better outcome.”

“There’s no guilt that I feel,” Irving said. “I’m the only player that has to deal with this in New York City because I play there. If I was anywhere else in another city then it probably wouldn’t be the same circumstances. But because I’m there, we have [mayor] Eric Adams, we have the New York mandate, we have things going on that are real-life circumstances that are not just affecting me, bro. So you ask me these questions, I don’t feel guilt.

“I’m just living my life as best I can just like everybody else that missed these last two years. I didn’t have a plan in place while all this was going on, didn’t know.