New York mayor says making an exception for Kyrie Irving would send wrong message

Eric Adams, mayor of New York, said that he can’t make an exception for Kyrie Irving allowing the Nets superstar to play also in home games.

Per ESPN, Adams made his comments to CNBC and added that he has spoken with Nets owner Joseph Tsai about the issue.

“Listen, I want Kyrie on the court. I would do anything to get that ring. So badly, I want it. But there’s so much at stake here. And I spoke with the owner of the team. We want to find a way to get Kyrie on the court, but this is a bigger issue,” Adams said in the interview. “I can’t have my city closed down again. It would send the wrong message just to have an exception for one player when we’re telling countless number of New York City employees, ‘If you don’t follow the rules, you won’t be able to be employed.’”

Adams agreed Monday that the current rule keeping Irving from playing home games “makes no sense” since away players who are unvaccinated are allowed to play in games in New York City. But even though he thought the rule as written is “ridiculous,” he said “these are the rules and I have to follow the rules. If I don’t, I’m going to open the door that is sending the wrong message to everyday employees.”