De Blasio To Kyrie Irving: Take A Shot On COVID Vaccine

NEW YORK CITY — Get a coronavirus vaccine so the Nets can win the NBA finals, Mayor Bill de Blasio told basketball superstar Kyrie Irving.

Hizzoner's plea Wednesday followed days of pointed silence from Irving on whether he's vaccinated.

Without the shot, Irving won't be able to play home games under New York City and NBA rules.

"I really want to see Kyrie get vaccinated," de Blasio, a self-professed Nets fan, said Wednesday during his daily briefing. "I want to see the whole team stay healthy and safe the whole season. We have a chance to win the championship for Brooklyn. It's staring us in the face. Let's go get it."

The drama over Irving's vaccine choice comes amid an ongoing push by de Blasio to get New Yorkers vaccinated, and the NBA releasing tentative health protocols for the season.

About 90 percent of players are fully vaccinated players and largely won't be affected by the rules. Unvaccinated players will have to submit to regular coronavirus tests and, importantly, have to follow local rules on vaccinations.

To play at Barclays Center, Irving would need to get his shot under the city's indoor vaccine mandate.

Irving is set to make $35 million this year.

“Any player who elects not to comply with local vaccination mandates will not be paid for games that he misses," Mike Bass, an NBA spokesperson, said Wednesday according to the Associated Press.

De Blasio noted many current and former basketball stars such as LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have received their shots.

James said he got his shot to keep his family safe.

“I think everyone has their own choice to do what they feel is right for themselves and their family and things of that nature,” James said. “I know that I was very (skeptical) about it all. But after doing my research and things of that nature, I felt like it was best suited for not only me but for my family and my friends. And, you know, that’s why I decided to do it.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.