Page 32 - bon-dia-aruba-20211013

A32 sports
Diaranson 13 october 2021

Nets won’t play Irving until he meets vaccine requirement

cision, adding that it came around their teammates. The
through discussions with Ir- Marks conceded that the league had said that players
ving and his associates. Nets weren’t as strong with- wouldn’t be paid for games
out Irving, though they may they miss because they are
“Kyrie loves to play basket- still be good enough. ineligible to play.
ball, wants to be out there,
wants to be participating with “At this point in time, the Marks said Irving would still
his teammates,” Marks said. Nets have more than enough be paid for road games.
“But again, this is a choice to win a championship,” said
that Kyrie had and he was Richard Jefferson, a former Teammates had said they
well aware of that.” Nets star who now works for were supportive of Irving’s
YES Network. “I think add- decision, but Marks seemed
Irving wasn’t even eligible ing Kyrie makes them, in my to indicate there was concern
to practice with the Nets in opinion, a heavy favorite and for the fan reaction. New
New York until Friday, when that’s just kind of is what it is. York was hit hard in early
the city told the team that its With Kyrie this team can win March 2020 by the virus and
(AP) — Kyrie Irving can be vaccinated against CO- training facility was consid- 55, 60 games. Without Kyrie, the Nets’ arena became a vac-
keep refusing to get the VID-19 to play or practice in ered a private venue. this team could still win 55 cination site this spring.
COVID-19 vaccine. public venues. games.”
Irving then joined the team “There are countless, count-
He just won’t play for the “Kyrie’s made it clear that he at an outdoor practice Satur- Marks wouldn’t predict how less workers who have lost
Brooklyn Nets until he does. has a choice in this matter day and worked out with the long Irving would be away jobs because of this, there are
and it’s ultimately going to be Nets on Sunday, but didn’t from the team or get into people who have lost loved
The Nets announced Tues- up to him what he decides,” play in Brooklyn’s exhibi- whether the Nets would ones and so forth and as I’ve
day that Irving would not general manager Sean Marks tion game at Philadelphia on consider trying to trade him. mentioned before this is se-
play or practice with them said. “We respect the fact that Monday. rious,” Marks said. “And we
until he could be a full par- he has a choice, he can make “The hope is that we have play a game of basketball.
ticipant, ending the idea that his own and right now what’s Coach Steve Nash had said Kyrie back,” Marks said. And although it’s serious and
he would play in only road best for the organization is that the Nets knew they were “We’ll welcome him back in we take our job extremely
games. the path that we’re taking.” going to be missing Irving open arms under a different seriously, these are mandates
for some games. For now, at set of circumstances and so that right now we don’t have
Irving hasn’t said he isn’t Teams aren’t allowed to re- least, it will be all of them. we need to wait and see how any control over. All we can
vaccinated, asking for priva- veal private details of players’ that transpires. But in the do is abide by them and think
cy when he spoke via Zoom health. But asked Tuesday if With Kevin Durant, James meantime, we need to focus that science and the people
during the team’s media day Irving was vaccinated, Marks Harden and Irving, the Nets on the 16 players that are go- governing — whether it’s our
on Sept. 27. said: “If he was vaccinated, were considered a favorite to ing to be on this roster mov- city, whether it’s our state,
we wouldn’t be having this win the NBA title. They were ing forward with us.” whether the country — are
But he had rarely been with discussion. I think that’s eliminated by the Milwaukee making the right calls for us
the team in New York, where probably pretty clear.” Bucks in the second round NBA players are not required all to get back and to move on
a mandate requires profes- of last season’s playoffs after to be vaccinated, but they into a healthy and safer envi-
sional athletes playing for Marks said he and owner Joe Irving sprained his ankle and face more testing and restric- ronment.”
a team in the city have to Tsai together made the de- missed the final three games. tions on their ability to be

George facing increased workload for Clippers without Kawhi

(AP) — No Kawhi Leon- mary scorer for a team ter Leonard got hurt in the just seeing how quickly I can playoff series before losing
ard means even more looking to make a deeper playoffs last season, George get better and how much to Phoenix in the conference
Paul George for the Los run in the playoffs. showed what he could do in stronger I can get than what finals, which they had their
Angeles Clippers. With helping the Clippers to their I was when I was healthy,” chances to win.
Leonard out while recov- George is already one of the first-ever Western Confer- he said. “When that available
ering from knee surgery, NBA’s elite scoring forwards ence finals berth. date comes, we’ll be ready for Lue enters his second season
George becomes the pri- and a talented defender. Af- it.” with the same expectation: to
“He’s carried teams before. win the franchise’s first NBA
He’s a great player,” coach Meanwhile, Leonard plans title.
Tyronn Lue said. “This year on being around the team,
we need more from him, saying he wants “to make “In losing a guy like Kawhi,
more leadership, and to myself as relevant as possi- I know things seem like it’s
continue to play the way he ble.” That includes watching not possible, but anything’s
played last season.” games, sitting in on coaches’ possible,” he said. “Our guys
meetings and staying in his have shown that last year.”
Lue has a deep roster to work teammates’ ears.
with, including new addi- The Clippers visit Stephen
tions Eric Bledsoe and Justise After Leonard went down, Curry and the Golden State
Winslow. the Clippers rallied from Warriors to open the season
0-2 deficits in their first two on Oct. 21.
The biggest question hang-
ing over the Clippers is when
Leonard will return. Will he
work his way back from sur-
gery to repair a partially torn
ACL before the end of the
regular season? Or for the
playoffs? Or remain out until
next season?
Even he isn’t sure.

“That’s the challenge of it,