Report: Irving not at media day due to health and safety protocols

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving didn't take part in the team's media day Monday due to health and safety protocols, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Irving is reportedly unvaccinated and he could miss games at Barclays Center due to New York City's vaccine mandate.

The All-Star guard later spoke with reporters over Zoom but didn't confirm whether or not he received the COVID-19 vaccine.

"I like to keep that stuff private. I'm a human being first," Irving said. "Obviously, living in this public sphere, there's a lot of questions about what's going on in the world of Kyrie. I think I just would love to just keep that stuff private and handle it the right way with my team and go forward together with a plan.

"Obviously, I'm not able to be present there today, but that doesn't mean that I'm putting any limits on the future of me being able to join the team."

Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks recently said that a couple of players won't be permitted to practice due to their vaccination status.

Under the city's mandate, Nets players need to prove they've received at least one dose to participate in team activities.

"That's on Kyrie. It's his personal decision," co-star Kevin Durant said Monday regarding Irving's availability for home games, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.

"But we trust in Kyrie and I expect us to have our full team at some point," Durant added.

Brooklyn expects Irving to travel with the club to San Diego for training camp, sources told ESPN's Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst.

The NBA fined Irving $25,000 last season for failing to speak with reporters during the club's media day.