Kevin Durant calls New York’s personal sector vaccine mandate ‘silly’
If you wish to get an thought of how the facility dynamic between the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks has drastically shifted, Sunday’s matchup gave us a window. The Nets now assume they run town.
Kevin Durant dropped a clean 53 factors on 19-for-37 capturing, drained 11 of his 12 free throws, and dished 9 assists on the Knicks Sunday afternoon. Then, he pulled as much as his postgame presser to stress New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams to repeal the personal sector vaccine mandate coverage that’s saved Kyrie Irving in road garments for a lot of the common season.
Right here’s what The Durantula needed to say:
“It simply seems like at this level now, anyone’s attempting to make an announcement on level to flex their authority. However you recognize, all people out right here is on the lookout for consideration and that’s what I really feel just like the Mayor needs proper now, some consideration. However he’ll determine it out quickly, he higher … folks didn’t perceive what was happening, however now it simply appears to be like silly. So hopefully Eric, you guys can determine this out.”
Admittedly, the coverage is nonsensical — within the case of the Nets — nevertheless it additionally impacts extra than simply NBA followers. Kyrie proved his level by watching the Nets from a courtside seat and huddling together with his teammates at halftime, however he’s gaslighting Nets followers by pretending like he’s helpless on this state of affairs. Durant’s frustration is comprehensible. Kyrie’s 25.9 ppg, 5.4 apg, and 4.6 rpg on 48/41/90 capturing is irreplaceable. He demonstrated how useful he’s by feeding a 50-burger to the Charlotte Hornets earlier within the week. Nevertheless, Kyrie’s availability for residence video games was by no means the mayor’s downside to determine.
Each member of the Nets’ energetic roster took the vaccine months in the past as a part of a nationwide effort to mitigate the unfold of COVID-19. Kyrie selected to sit down that combat out as properly. Identical to he sat out the bubble (rehabbing one other harm) and talked an enormous recreation about his friends boycotting the bubble. It’s additionally paying homage to how he disappeared from the Nets on the top of the pandemic so he may party maskless.
Nevertheless, this marketing campaign to affect public officers to make particular exemptions or alter public coverage is self-centered. Kyrie thinks the earth revolves (ahem) — thinks he’s the middle of the flat earth. It’s a disgrace Durant is encouraging these delusions as a result of that powerful love for Adams must be directed in the direction of Kyrie.
Final month, Adams pump-faked Nets followers by saying plans to carry town’s public sector masks and vaccine mandate coverage. Adams may carry the personal sector mandate at any level, however till then, Kyrie and Durant must tamp down the victimization. If the Mayor believes the personal sector mandate is not essential, the coverage will likely be repealed. The whims of NBA All-Stars shouldn’t dictate public coverage. Till it’s eliminated, the one particular person Durant ought to blame for his predicament is Kyrie.
