An end to one, a start of one

The holdout has finally ended with the return of Ben Simmons to Philadelphia and practice with the team last week. The trade that he wanted never happened and the prospect of losing pay for the season surely prompted him to rejoin the Sixers.

Teammates welcomed him as according to reports, they were happy that he’s back on the team. Coach Doc Rivers said that Simmons is in decent shape but still not in game shape.

It’s still not certain if he’ll be available for their season opener against the Pelicans in New Orleans tomorrow. His performance will be scrutinized, whether he’ll be at All-Star level or will just be going thru the motions in his pursuit of a new team.

For the moment, the Ben Simmons saga had ended but it doesn’t mean that things between him and the team had been settled. Money was the obvious reason for his return because his salary was withheld. The Sixers will never trade him unless they get a good deal. Philly fans hope that Simmons will be professional enough and play high-caliber basketball considering the four years remaining on his contract. 

And another one just started.

“I chose to be unvaccinated, and that was my choice.”

Because of this choice, the Brooklyn Nets decided not to let Kyrie Irving practice or play with the team “until he is eligible to be a full participant.” Irving can actually play in road games but Nets GM Sean Marks said that the team will not allow him to be a part-time player.

“Kyrie has made a personal choice and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability. It is imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-established values of togetherness and sacrifice.”

The New York City vaccine mandate, which took effect on September 13 states that anyone above the age of 12 will not be allowed entry on certain covered premises within the city which includes the Barclays Center, Madison Square Garden and any other indoor gyms without showing proof of at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption for not doing so.

The executive order prohibits Irving from playing any home games and unless he decides to get vaccinated, we won’t be seeing him play for sometime. Maybe the Nets had foreseen this thing that they got Patty Mills in the off season.  As per reports, at least 95% of NBA players and 98% of the WNBA players had received the Covid-19 shots.

His anti-vax stance will cost him at least half of his $34.9 million salary for the 2021-2022 season.  From Cleveland to Boston to Brooklyn, Kyrie had become synonymous to stubbornness and selfishness.   His days as a Net could already be numbered.