Unvaccinated Kyrie Irving may be playing home games for the Brooklyn Nets 'in weeks' as NYC plans to phase out vaccine mandates

• Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has missed all of the team's home games this year.
• Irving refuses to get vaccinated, and New York currently has a vaccine mandate for indoor events.

New York City is tentatively preparing to roll back its vaccine mandate in the coming weeks, according to mayor Eric Adams — a move that would lift the ban on Kyrie Irving playing home games for the Brooklyn Nets.

Adams announced plans to change New York's current vaccine mandate during a press conference on Wednesday, saying he plans on "rolling out some things in the next day or so."

Irving, who has refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, has not played in any home games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn this season because the mandate forbids an unvaccinated person from being at most indoor public events, including NBA games. Irving has only played 14 road games outside of New York this season.

The COVID-19 vaccine has proven to be highly effective in combatting hospitalization and deaths from the virus. Misinformation has perpetuated myths about the vaccine and has led people to forego the shot, with many turning instead to unproven and ineffective treatments, including hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, Insider previously reported.

The 29-year-old point guard was set to make $34.9 million this year from his contract with the Nets, but he would forfeit $16 million of that salary if he misses the team's entire 41-game home schedule. He has already missed 28 home games.

Additionally, Irving's contract is set to expire after next season. The Nets were reportedly prepared to offer him a $186 million extension but then retracted the offer after his vaccination status caused him to miss home games, according to Shams Charina of The Athletic.

But if Adams does roll back the mandate in the coming weeks, then the remainder of Irving's contract this year plus an extension may be back on the table, as Nets head coach Steve Nash said he hopes to get the star back soon and for the long-term.

"It'd be great for us to have Kyrie available for all our games," Nash said during a press conference on Wednesday. "Having said that, who knows? It's not really in our control, so we leave it up to the mayor and wait patiently."