Nets hope for NYC vaccine mandate change so Irving can play

By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets are hopeful of a change to a local vaccine mandate that would make Kyrie Irving available for home games, one that New York City’s mayor is “struggling” with whether to make. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday he believed Mayor Eric Adams should look at the mandate, which requires athletes playing for the city’s teams to be vaccinated against the coronavirus to play in public venues. Adams later agreed that there were problems with the rule, which doesn’t apply to visiting players, but said he is hesitant to make a change and send a mixed message.