NBA star Kyrie Irving seems on the verge of a long-awaited New York return, with the 'Big Apple' poised to drop its strict COVID-19 mandate as soon as Friday (NZ time).
The Brooklyn Nets guard has been one of sport's staunchest anti-vaxxers, choosing to sit out the start of the current NBA season, as New York banned anyone not taking the jab from its public buildings, including the Nets training facility and Barclays Centre homecourt.
Initially, Kiwi Sean Marks - the Nets general manager - ruled his team would not play Irving for just road games, but renegged halfway through the season, when COVID and injury decimated the roster.
Since then, Irving has made 19 appearances, averaging 27.7 points, while still calling for an end to New York mandates.
"In terms of where I am with my life outside of this, I stay rooted in my decision and that's just what it is," he said.
Irving's abstinence - along with injuries to Kevin Durant and James Harden - meant Brooklyn could rarely put their 'Big Three' on the court together, as they slumped to eighth in the highly competitive Easter Conference, and eventually traded Harden to Philadelphia 76ers for Aussie Ben Simmons, who also hasn't taken the court yet.
Heavily favoured to take the NBA crown when the season began, the Nets currently face a play-in tournament just to reach the playoffs.
Since he was sworn in on January 1, new NYC Mayor Eric Adams has gradually relaxed previous COVID-19 rules and seems poised to lift the ban on unvaccinated athletes just in time for the start of the baseball season, with the New York Yankees due to play their home opener on April 7.
"We're going to do it in the right way," Adams says. "We're going to follow the science, we're going to make the right decision.
"In New York, no matter what you do, this is 8.8 million people and 30 million opinions. You're never going to satisfy New Yorkers, so you must go with the logic, your heart and the science."
Irving may be cleared in time to play the Nets' home game against playoff rivals Charlotte Hornets on Monday (NZ time).
