Kyrie Irving Will Not Play for Nets Until He is Vaccinated; Brooklyn’s NBA Championship Odds Now +230
- Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks says Kyrie Irving will not train or play with the team until he’s vaccinated
- Irving has refused to get vaccinated despite current New York rules stopping him from taking part in team activities
- Brooklyn’s title odds are +230 with FanDuel; Should you bet them at that price?
The latest update on the Kyrie Irving vaccination saga took place on Tuesday. Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks released a statement saying Irving will not take part in any games or practice until he can be a ‘full-time participant’. This wording means Irving is effectively away from the team until he gets vaccinated, something he has previously refused to do.
While still favorites in the NBA Championship Odds, the Nets’ title credentials clearly take a major hit if Irving is absent for a prolonged period.
The seven-time All-Star was meant to be part of arguably the most talented ‘Big Three’ in league history. It is now unclear if he will play for the Nets in 2021-22 at all.
2022 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | Odds to Win NBA Title |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | +230 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +400 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +800 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1200 |
| Utah Jazz | +1400 |
Odds as of Oct 12 at FanDuel
Restrictions In Place
Beginning on September 13th, at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been required to enter Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden. This rule extends to other ‘covered premises’ in the city. Irving not having a vaccine meant he could not practice or play for the team in New York.
It was reported by Tim Bontemps on ESPN in September that the NBA intends to enforce this rule for all personnel associated with teams, and that has been the case with Irving.
A religious or medical exemption can be a way of dodging these restrictions, but there has been no such reporting of that for Irving.
Irving must be vaccinated against COVID-19 before he can be a full participant with the team. NY requires players to have at least one dose of the vaccine. https://t.co/VaWGFQrG9N
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) October 12, 2021
It’s worth noting, of course, that Andrew Wiggins had an application for a religious exemption rejected. Wiggins eventually got the vaccine, enabling him to play in the Warriors’ home games.
Irving Getting the Shot
Wiggins and Irving are different characters. Reporting of Wiggins’ situation often seemed to suggest people around the Warriors thought he would get the shot eventually. That is ultimately what happened, and Wiggins can take a full part in practice and all games at Oracle Arena.
Kyrie finishing his own research now that $200 million is on the line pic.twitter.com/923kw81f8w
— B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) October 12, 2021
When it comes to betting on any Nets futures this season, Irving’s vaccination status has to be a primary factor to consider. This latest news makes it even more significant in the long-term, and raises questions about Irving’s future in the NBA.
Outspoken, strong-willed and sometimes controversial, this sort of ultimatum doesn’t seem likely to have an impact on Irving’s vaccine stance. It’s quite possible this only entrenches his views further.
The Nets Rollercoaster
It’s always going to be a rollercoaster when a team compiles a Big Three and becomes strong title favorites. That rollercoaster becomes wilder still when one of those stars is Kyrie Irving in the midst of a pandemic. There is no way to know how this changes the Nets’ chemistry, although it’s fair to assume that Kevin Durant and James Harden are on board with this hardline stance from Sean Marks.
The Simmons for Kyrie trade is making more and more sense by the day 🤷🏿♂️
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) October 12, 2021
Harden and Durant had injury issues last season and both are bound to load manage throughout the regular season. We saw how close the Nets got with one-and-a-half stars in the postseason last year, but the prospect of having no Irving whatsoever clearly changes how we project them this season. Perhaps they are still favorites for the title, but they are definitely not good value at +230.
Just as with the Ben Simmons mess in Philadelphia, this story is far from over. Irving might follow Wiggins’ path. He might just retire.
Hold off backing the Nets for now. The odds won’t get much shorter, and there’s a chance they lengthen significantly over the coming weeks if Irving digs his heels in.
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
