MIAMI -- When news first broke on Wednesday that the New York City mandate that prevented unvaccinated athletes from playing in home games has been lifted, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving said he had to keep pinching himself to make sure it was real.
On Thursday, New York City mayor Eric Adams announced the mandate was lifted, clearing the way for Irving to play in home games at Barclays Center, something he hasn't been able to do all season.
"Please take my comment seriously when I say I've been pinching myself since Wednesday and Thursday because there was a time where I got my hopes really, really high and all the air just got let out," Irving said at Nets' shootaround ahead of Saturday night's game in Miami.