Stephen A. Smith Sides With Kyrie Irving On Strange New York Vaccination Loophole

Stephen A. Smith is the latest person to side with Kyrie Irving on his stance against a very strange quirk in New York’s statewide COVID-19 vaccination regulations. Kyrie is not allowed to play home games for the Nets because he chose not to get the vaccine. Under the rules, unvaccinated visiting players can suit up and participate in games with no issues while Knicks and Nets players have to sit out.

Even NBA commissioner Adam Silver previously stated that he thought the rule was absurd. If the idea is to protect public health, then no unvaccinated person should be allowed in the building. This particular loophole seems to make the entire vaccine mandate pointless as far as the NBA is concerned.

Stephen A. Smith has criticized Kyrie Irving for not being vaccinated. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t see the obvious double standard as ridiculous. Smith talked about the vaccination rules on today’s First Take.

“I’ve been critical of Kyrie Irving. I didn’t stutter, I’m not backing up. I meant every single damn word I said. But that does not mean what New York has done to him is right. It is not.

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Kyrie Irving should have never been prevented or prohibited from playing a game at the Barclays Center this season. This city of New York’s rule is bogus, it is ridiculous.”

Stephen A. Smith isn’t saying that he has become an anti-vaxxer overnight. Instead, like commissioner Silver, he is pointing out the ludicrous hypocrisy of the state’s rules. New York has been unwilling to revisit the loopholes thus far. Time will tell if changes are made and Kyrie Irving can finally suit up at Barclays Center once again.

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