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Kyrie's basketball legacy not as important as his personal beliefs


 Team sports are all about sacrifice. I'm the last one to tell anyone what to put in their body, period. When you're Novak Djokovic, of course you're letting down your fans and those expecting you to rewrite major tennis history at this year's Australian Open.

But for Kyrie Irving, his decision to remain unvaccinated has far reaching consequences beyond an individual sport such as tennis.

Djokovic's choice impacts his own legacy, while Irving's impacts not only that but his team's championship pursuit.

Team sports are predicated on sacrifice including: minutes, money, recognition, family time and off the court pursuits.

Players aiming to win a title often throw themselves  full bore into that cause for the betterment of the team and to inspire teammates.

Irving is considered a team leader, a source of inspiration for the locker room and without saying, one of the team's most dynamic players. So when Kyrie indicates he's no closer to complying with local vaccine mandates than he was back when training camp opened in July, while it's not unexpected for a player dug in firmly on his stance, it makes you wonder whether he's putting himself and his own beliefs ahead of the team?

Irving cannot be the only individual or NBA player with reservations about the vaccine and each person should be judged on a case by case basis, but the Nets' guard still hasn't made it clear why he's unwilling to join the rest of his teammates in a full-time capacity.

At the end of the day, the choice is Irving's and his alone, but with every choice there are consequences. Assuming things stay status quo, despite the Omicron variant spiking and now on the downturn, the Nets can't rely on Irving to help carry them to the promise land.

The New Jersey native convinced Durant to join his childhood team and bring a first ever championship to the club. Without Irving, there is no Durant, but when faced with a conundrum of sacrificing personal belief for the betterment of the team, Irving has landed on the side of doing what's best for him.

Where that leaves the Nets this season remains to be seen. Will they bow out of the second round of the playoffs again with Kyrie at home on his couch during a decisive Game 7 at Barclays Center?

Will they hoist the Larry O'Brien in Brooklyn without Irving there to enjoy the fruits of the team's labor. This is a bizarre situation that has no end in sight, so while it's fine to defend to the death an individual's right to choose, there comes with that real consequences and in a team sport, the team should come ahead of the individual. For Irving, that hasn't been the case over the course of his career and certainly isn't the case now.


Kevin Durant's injury doesn't mean his MVP stock will crash

photo by Doug Bearak


Kevin Durant is the leader in the clubhouse to win the NBA's MVP award. Leading the league at 29.3 points per contest and shooting a blistering 52 percent from the field for a perimeter-oriented player is nothing short of extraordinary.

So for critics suggesting that Durant, who will likely be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee, could fall out of MVP contention just by the mere fact that he's missing games is utterly ridiculous.

By the timeline that most are estimating, Durant could miss 20-30 games depending on his rehab.

Is it fair to penalize a player for missing less than a quarter of a season when the body of work throughout this campaign and his entire career speaks for itself?

Not to mention his biggest threat, Steph Curry, has seen his scoring take a precipitous fall after injuring his hand and despite his fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson returning to the team.

Among the leading candidates for MVP, Durant's injury won't preclude him for hitting the ground running when he returns to the court and it's realistic to think he'll pick up right where he left off in no time. 

So while Durant's detractors will point to his injury as a reason to bump him out of the MVP conversation, those who know and follow the game, know who the real MVP is this year.

Kyrie on vaccination status: 'I made my decision and I'm standing on it'




One thing is clear, no outside pressure or influence is going to sway Kyrie Irving to change his vaccination stance. Even Kevin Durant's injured left knee and Joe Harris still working back from shoulder surgery won't sway Irving off his decision.

'I made my decision and I'm standing on it", Irving told beat reporters following the Nets loss in Cleveland.

 

The Nets reversed course on their preseason decision to preclude Irving from being a part-time player, but don't count on the Nets' point guard pivoting on his vaccination choice.

Brooklyn's GM Sean Marks will need to be active ahead of the February trade deadline anticipating Irving will only be available for road games and Durant and Harris likely only with the team for the final 4-6 weeks of the regular season coming off injury.

As Omicron cases hit a peak last week, public health officials are cautiously optimistic that the country and world at large is through the worst of the latest spike in cases from the variant.

This doesn't mean that there's an imminent change to vaccine mandates in public spaces within New York City, but it leaves open the possibility that Irving can return in a full capacity as it's clear he's not budging from his decision.

Joe Harris takes major step forward in return to Nets after ankle surgery




Nba.com

 Finally, a positive update on the injury front for the Brooklyn Nets as Joe Harris has been cleared for light shooting and made the trip with the Nets to Cleveland on MLK day, according to head coach Steve Nash.

Harris underwent ankle surgery on November 29 and was expected to miss 4-8 weeks. Brooklyn is right in the middle of that recovery timeframe and Nash indicated that Brooklyn's sharpshooter is making progress and starting on court work. 



The Nets did not issue a single update on Harris' progress since late-November, so while he's not quite practicing with the team, this encouraging news will help ease the loss of Kevin Durant for the next 4-6 weeks.

Nash has turned to a trio of rookies in Cam Thomas, Kessler Edwards and Day'Ron Sharpe to shoulder significant minutes with the team shorthanded.

James Harden and Kyrie Irving as a part-time road star, will need to elevate their games.

The more healthy bodies in the rotation, the better likelihood the Nets will remain near the top of the Eastern Conference, even with Durant on the shelf until at least after the All-Star Break.

Basketball Gods not shining down on Nets' Big 3

photo by Doug Bearak

It seems as though a greater force is preventing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden from taking the court together. 

 Brooklyn's Big 3 is 13-3 playing together and 59-35 when missing at least one head of the three-headed monster. Playing just 14.5 percent of 110 possible games is not something that GM Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash envisioned for the superstars. 

 Even before Harden's arrival, Durant missed the 2019-2020 campaign rehabbing his Achilles injury and Irving played in just 20 games before undergoing shoulder surgery. Don't mention to Nets fans the shuffling on and off the injury report for Harden and Durant last year, while Irving missed time due to personal reasons. 

Harden re-aggravated his hamstring in Game 1 of the 2021 NBA playoff semifinal round against Milwaukee before returning for the final three games of the series seriously hampered by the setback.

 Irving suffered a serious ankle injury in Game 4 and missed the remainder of the playoffs. Optimism was running high heading into 2021 Nets training camp that finally the three amigos would stay healthy and eligible, but Irving's refusal to comply with New York City's vaccine mandates forced him to miss the first 39 contests of this year. 

 Now just when Irving is cemented as a part-time player and optimism growing that either he will warm to the idea of getting vaccinated or mandates will be loosened or lifted this spring, Durant will miss 4-6 weeks with a MCL sprain in his left knee. Bad luck is one thing, but when a franchise that has often been snakebitten throughout its history, fans can't but wonder if this simply another chapter in a cursed story?

 Brooklyn's championship window is in Year 2 with no guarantee that Harden or Irving will re-sign as both are set to become free agents. The reality is that the arrow is still pointing up at a potential first NBA championship for the Nets and perhaps the sun will finally shine on this hard luck organization
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