LeBron James lashes out over Kyrie Irving appearance at Brooklyn game

LeBron James has lashed out on social media after Kyrie Irving was allowed to sit in the crowd at the Brooklyn Nets' home game against the New York Knicks on Sunday despite being unvaccinated.

Irving has been banned from playing home games this season because of New York's vaccination mandate, meaning he can only play games in which Brooklyn is on the road.

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However fans were shocked to see Irving rock up at Barclays Centre on Sunday and sit courtside to watch the game.

Irving was even allowed to join his teammates in the locker room at half-time, causing mass confusion and outrage.

There is no longer a mandate that spectators must be vaccinated, but there is still one requiring it for someone who works at the Nets' arena.

The rule led to the farcical situation of Irving being allowed into Barclays Centre to watch the game with tickets he purchased as a spectator, but not as a player.

LA Lakers superstar James was among the many to question the confusing situation on Sunday.

“It literally makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE!!!” he tweeted.

“They say if common sense was common then we’d all have it. Ain’t that the truth."

James finished his tweet with the hashtag #FreeKyrie.

Kyrie Irving allowed to sit in stands for Brooklyn games

Like other unvaccinated individuals, Irving is now permitted to attend games in New York and do so without wearing a mask.

He was on hand for the ACC championship game between Duke and Virginia Tech at Barclays Centre on Saturday night and returned to the arena for Sunday’s matinee between the Nets and Knicks.

New York City mayor Eric Adams made a public appearance earlier on Sunday and faced some heckling about Irving’s situation.

The mayor’s response was simple, saying: “Listen. You’re right. Kyrie can play tomorrow. Get vaccinated."

Under the current vaccine rules, Irving will be unable to play in 11 of the Nets’ final 15 regular season games, including Sunday's game against the Knicks.

"This is unreal," Nets teammate Kevin Durant said. "Like, I've never seen nothing like this before."

Irving has played 18 games for the Nets this season (all on the road), averaging 25.9 points per game and recently scoring 50 in his team's win over the Charlotte Hornets.

The Nets have now won three games in a row to consolidate their hold on eighth in the eastern conference standings.

But if the season ended today, the Nets would face the No. 7 seed Toronto Raptors in the play-in tournament.

Irving would not be permitted to play in any of those games because of a vaccine mandate in Canada.

with agencies

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