The 2021-2022 National Basketball League season is now in full swing! Personally, I am thrilled that the Nets are back and that the arenas are full. After major disruptions in the last two NBA seasons due to COVID-19, this season is the closest thing we have to a “traditional” pre-Covid basketball season. Despite the NBA coming back to normal this season, one Nets player has not.  

       As of October 27, Kyrie Irving, one of the best players on the Nets and in the NBA, has refused to get vaccinated. Kyrie’s decision to not get vaccinated has barred him from playing for the Nets, as New York City requires employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to stop the spread of the virus. As a result of Kyrie’s anti-vaccination status, he has faced widespread criticism from both players and fans. 

      With Irving out for the foreseeable future, the Nets will have to look elsewhere for offensive production. The Nets still return Kevin Durant and James Harden, both of whom are MVP quality players. While Irving would usually handle the point guard role, James Harden will likely have to take up point guard duties and help out even more on offense. Spencer Dinwiddie, a key bench player for the Nets, left in free agency. Despite Dinwiddie’s departure, the Nets still have other quality role-players such as Joe Harris, Bruce Brown, and Patty Mills. The Nets will also have a stronger power forward and center rotation this year with Blake Griffin, Lamarcus Alridge, and Nicholas Claxton splitting time. 

      This Nets roster is capable of going deep into the playoffs or winning an NBA championship – barring any major injuries. Kyrie’s anti-vaccination status clearly disrupted the team’s momentum going into the year, but the Nets should still be fine. My finals prediction is that the Nets will have a regular season record of 54-28 before making the playoffs and eventually winning the NBA Championship. Despite the heartbreak of the 2021 Nets season, where they lost to the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the 2022 Nets season is shaping up to be even better.