Durant: 'Looks stupid' that Kyrie can be at Nets' arena but can't play

Kyrie Irving finally set foot inside Barclays Center for the first time this season but could only watch as a fan, as New York City's private workplace vaccine mandate still prohibits him from playing in Brooklyn Nets home games.

The point guard settled for a courtside seat out of his own pocket as Kevin Durant scored a season-high 53 points Sunday to lift Brooklyn past the New York Knicks, 110-107. After his performance, Durant questioned the awkward situation and called on NYC mayor Eric Adams to find a solution.

"I don't get it. It just feels like, at this point now, somebody's trying to make a statement or a point to flex their authority," Durant told reporters, courtesy of SNY. "Everybody out here looking for attention, and that's what I feel like the mayor wants right now: some attention. But he'll figure it out soon, he better.

"But it just didn't make any sense. Like, there's unvaxxed people in this building already. We got a guy who can come into the building. ... I don't get it. We're all confused. Pretty much everybody in the world is confused at this point. Early on in the season, people didn't understand what was going on but now, it just looks stupid. ... Eric, you gotta figure this out."

Irving, who remains unvaccinated, was previously unable to enter the Nets' arena at all due to a city ordinance that required any local employee or attendee at indoor venues to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, but that measure was dropped Monday. However, a separate mandate for private workplaces remains in effect.

The situation caught the attention of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who criticized the rules keeping Irving out.

Irving is only eligible to play in four of the remaining 14 regular-season games under current regulations. But the restrictions could affect Irving's postseason participation too.

If the Nets finish seventh and have to travel to face the Toronto Raptors in a play-in game, Irving wouldn't be permitted to enter Canada because of his vaccination status. If Brooklyn were to lose that contest, it would host the winner of the No. 9 versus No. 10 matchup, leaving Irving ineligible.

Should Brooklyn make it to the first round, Irving would only be able to play in Games 1, 2, 5, and 7.