The Kyrie Irving vaccination saga has persisted despite the start of the 2021-22 NBA season being less than two weeks away. The seven-time All-Star’s resistance to getting vaccinated has been an ongoing headache for the Brooklyn Nets organization as well as a distraction for a team with championship ambitions.

According to NBA insiders Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst, “the Nets remain unclear on All-Star guard Kyrie Irving’s ultimate intentions to get vaccinated and have made no decision on whether the organization will accommodate him as a part-time player this season.”

New York is currently enforcing a mandate requiring vaccination for all athletes who play or practice in the city.

It may be possible the Nets will decide to completely sideline Irving, which would be an obvious blow to the team given the value he’s able to provide offensively. Last season, ‘Uncle Drew’ became just the ninth player in NBA history to join the exclusive 50-40-90 club, joining the ranks of shooters such as Steph Curry, Larry Bird, and Irving’s head coach, Steve Nash.

The Nets held their first practice yesterday at the HSS Training Center in Brooklyn after holding the start of their training camp in San Diego. The team will practice again today and Thursday in preparation for their second preseason game this Friday.

However, Irving, who practiced with the team in San Diego, will not be able to participate until he receives a dose of a vaccine to protect himself, and other members of the organization, from COVID-19. Nash asserted that the Nets will not practice outside of NYC to accommodate Irving.

“No, this is our home, this is where we’re going to practice and we have almost a whole group,” he said. “So that’s a positive, and we’re just working at getting better every day and focusing on the things we can control.”

An agreement negotiated by the NBA and the Players Union states that players will be docked 1/91.6th of their salaries for each game missed due to protocol violations. The 29-year-old, who is set to make $35.3 million this season, would thus potentially lose about $380,000 for each home game missed.

During the NBA Media Day, Irving was required to attend the event virtually due to the protocols implemented. Over video call, he explained to the press why he couldn’t attend the event in person alongside his teammates.

“I appreciate your question, bro,” Irving said. “Honestly, I like to keep that stuff private… handle it the right way with my team and go forward together with a plan. So, you know, 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.”

Unsurprisingly, his selfish justifications have prompted criticism from media members, like the one and only Stephen A Smith. “Kyrie Irving has already leaked from his camp that says, ‘Hey, if I go somewhere else, I’m not playing, I won’t play, I’ll retire,'” Smith tweeted.

Despite the organization’s efforts to listen, support, and educate Irving, the Nets may just have to accept the possibility that the NBA Finals must be won without his contribution.

A museum honoring Celtics legend Larry Bird is expected to be constructed by March 2022. It will be located in Terre Haute, the city that houses Indiana State University, which is where Bird played college ball for three years before entering the NBA.

“The museum will be located in the eastern end of the Terre Haute Convention Center, which remains under construction with an anticipated completion date of March 2022,” stated Lisa Trigg of the Tribune-Star.

A collection of thousands of items is underway, which will include memorabilia donated by Bird himself such as trophies, jerseys and his Olympic gold medal.

“As other items are collected, they can be housed in one location,” said Shelly Keen, who is in charge of the cataloging of memorabilia.

A couple of weeks ago, in the absence of basketball games, ESPN ranked the top-74 players in the NBA’s history (74 because this season was the NBA’s 74th anniversary). On May13, ESPN released their top-10 players of all-time. You probably can guess who the top-10 were but here it is:

1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Bill Russell
5. Magic Johnson
6. Wilt Chamberlain
7. Larry Bird
8. Tim Duncan
9. Kobe Bryant
10. Shaquille O’Neal

Personally, I have some issues with the list. I think some guys should be higher while others are lower, but I will give my personal list later. Looking at the list however, here is why each guy has a case to be considered one of the ten best players in NBA history:

• Jordan:
  • Career Stats: 30.1 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 5.3 assists per game, 2.3 steals per game. 
  • Notable Accolades: 6-time NBA Champion, 6-time Finals MVP, 5-time Regular Season MVP, 1988 Defensive Player of the Year, 10-time scoring champion, 14-time All-Star, Member of NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team.
  • Jordan is one of the best to ever step on an NBA court, if you are watching The Last Dance, you would know how much Jordan was idolized around the world and how much respect his competitors had for him. In the 90s, everyone wanted to take on the Bulls and beat Jordan, but none of them could.
• James:
  • Career Stats (at least as of right now): 27.1 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 7.4 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game.
  • Notable Accolades: 3-time NBA Champion, 3-time Finals MVP, 4-time League MVP, 16-time All Star, 3-time All Star Game MVP 12-time First team All NBA. 
  • The guy is the best player of this generation, he is a physical freak of nature, has had numerous moments during his career that can be considered iconic. The longevity of his success can arguably be the most impressive pair of his entire career.
• Abdul-Jabbar:
  • Career Stats: 24.6 points per game, 11.2 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, 2.6 blocks per game.
  • Notable Accolades: 6-time NBA Champion, 2-time Finals MVP, 6-time League MVP, 19-time All Star, 10-time All NBA First Team, Member of NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team.
  • Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all time leader in points scored with 38,387 career points. He had one of the most unstoppable moves in league history with the skyhook. I mentioned his list of his achievements but the guy truly did it all, more MVPs than any other player, more All Star game appearances than any other player. The fact that he was so good and so dominant for so long is what is really impressive.
• Russell:
  • Career Stats: 15.1 points per game, 22.5 rebounds per game, 4.3 assists per game. 
  • Notable Accolades: 11-time NBA Champion, 5-time League MVP, 12-time All Star, Member of NBA’s. 25th, 35th, and 50th Anniversary Teams.
  • Despite not having the same accolades as the three guys ahead of him, that is partially because those things did not exist. There was not such a thing as a Finals MVP until his final championship in 1969, which went to Jerry West. They named the Finals MVP after Russell who is considered the ultimate winner in basketball history with 11 championships in 13 seasons. Blocks was not a stat during Russell’s career, but he was a prolific shot blocker if you watch the footage.
• Johnson:
  • Career Stats: 19.5 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, 11.2 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game.
  • Notable Accolades: 5-time NBA Champion, 3-time Finals MVP, 3-time League MVP, 12-time All Star, 2-time All Star Game MVP, 9-time All NBA First Team, Member of NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team.
  • I mean when your nickname is ‘Magic,’ that means you are something special and that’s what Johnson was. The orchestrator of the Showtime Lakers, he was a wizard with the basketball in his hands, revolutionized the game with his size being a 6′ 9” point guard but had skills no one had ever seen before. He was the face of the NBA in the 80s, some say it was Bird, others Jordan, but I personally think it is without question Johnson.
• Chamberlain: 
  • Career Stats: 30.1 points per game, 22.9 rebounds per game, 4.9 assists per game.
  • Notable Accolades: 2-time NBA Champion, 1-time Finals MVP,  4-time League MVP, 13-time All Star, 7-time First Team All NBA, 7-time scoring champion, 11-time rebounding champion. Member of NBA’s 35th and 50th Anniversary Team.
  • Chamberlain is the only player to score 100 points in a game, he averaged 50 points in a season, a truly dominant player. My one issue with ‘The Big Dipper,’ is that was this dominance more so of a byproduct with the era he played in. Sure there was Russell, but that is really it for centers in that era who posed any real challenge to Chamberlain. Who knows, maybe that’s just how dominant he really was that only one guy in the whole NBA stood a chance against him.
• Bird:
  • Career Stats: 24.3 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game, 6.3 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game.
  • Notable Accolades: 3-time NBA Champion, 2-time Finals MVP, 3-time League MVP, 12-time All Star, 9-time All NBA First Team, Member of NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team.
  • Bird’s career was going to be compared to that of Magic Johnson’s the moment the two were drafted into the NBA, and neither balked at the challenge. Bird is one of the best shooters in league history, as an extremely smooth jumper, and I think he is one of those guys who can thrive in almost any era, which you can’t say about some guys on this list. 
• Duncan:
  • Career Stats: 19 points per game, 10.8 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game, 2.2 blocks per game.
  • Notable Accolades: 5-time NBA Champion, 3-time Finals MVP, 2-time League MVP, 15-time All Star, 10-time First Team All NBA, 8-time First Team All Defense.
  • The guy lived up to his nickname as ‘The Big Fundamental’ as he was not a guy who would wow you with his flashiness or was a big personality. He just went out onto the court, knew what his job was and more often than not, did it. When the game was on the line, he would show up and execute. One of the best winners in league history as he has the most wins in the regular season for a player who played for one team with 1,001.
• Bryant:
  • Career Stats: 25.0 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 4.7 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game.
  • Notable Accolades: 5-time NBA Champion, 2-time Finals MVP, 1-time League MVP, 18-time All Star, 4-time All Star Game MVP, 11-time First Team All NBA, 9-time First Team All Defense. 
  • It is unfortunate that Bryant’s life got cut tragically short and he will be unable to attend his Hall Of Fame induction. The guy was the ultimate competitor, the ‘Mamba Mentality’ became something that players feared. Second most points in a single game in NBA history with 81. In his final game, he scored 60 points. He was the closest thing to Jordan we have ever seen. A legend that died too young.
• O’Neal:
  • Career Stats: 23.7 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, 2.3 blocks per game.
  • Notable Accolades: 4-time NBA Champion, 3-time Finals MVP, 1-time League MVP, 15-time All Star, 3-time All Star Game MVP, 8-time First Team All NBA, Member of NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team.
  • The most dominant player in NBA history, without question. Compared to Russell, Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar, O’Neal would probably beat all of them. He changed how the NBA was played because of how good he was, had multiple rules changed because of some of the things he would do on the basketball court. The guy had an electric personality and that showed in his many nicknames and that translated to his play on the court.

As promised, I said I would give my top 10 list for the ten greatest players in NBA history. This is strictly my opinion, but here is how I thought ESPN should have done their rankings.

1. Jordan
2. James
3. Johnson
4. Abdul-Jabbar
5. O’Neal
6. Duncan
7. Bryant
8. Bird
9. Chamberlain
10. Russell

Let me know your list of the top-10 NBA players of all time on social media, @usports on Twitter and Instagram

Dwyane Wade surpassed legend Larry Bird on the list of the top scorers in NBA playoff history on Monday night.

Dwyane Wade Passes Larry Bird In Playoff Scoring

The 36-year-old guard passed Bird with his 16th point in the Miami Heat’s 113-103 victory over the 76ers in Philadelphia. At that moment, Wade recorded his 3,898th career postseason point, one more than the Boston Celtics Hall of Famer’s total. Wade now sits at 10th on the list, behind ninth-place Tony Parker (4,014 points).

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Wade finished with 28 points in 26 minutes off the bench on Monday, after having played just 19 minutes in Game 1 on Saturday. He outscored the Sixers alone 21-20 over the last 15 minutes of the first half.

Here is the shot in the second quarter that put Miami up 52-40 and that brought 12-time All-Star Wade to 10th on the list:

Wade — who earlier this season returned to the Heat following a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers — told ESPN he will decided after this season whether to return to Miami for one more season or retire.

“Just taking time to think, that’s all I’m doing,” Wade stated. “Taking time to think and looking at every angle and what’s the best situation for me to be in. That’s all. It’s a lot of different, it’s a lot of different things that come into play.”

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Wade made clear, however, that the Heat is the only team he would be willing to come back to play for, citing Vince Carter as one of the few examples of players who could return to play for virtually any NBA team.

The veteran guard recently had a long exchange with comedian Kevin Hart on Twitter.

Wade has also received strong support during the postseason from his wife, actress Gabrielle Union. 

The Heat and Sixers are now tied 1-1 in their first-round series. Game 3 will be played Thursday at 7pm EST in Miami.

Larry Bird turned 60 on Wednesday, and several NBA members and fans have taken to Twitter to congratulate the legendary former Celtics forward.

Larry Bird Turns 60, Reveals Secrets From 13-Year NBA Career

Clearly, there remains no doubt that Bird is still beloved by many basketball fans and organizations.

The iconic former forward–nicknamed “Larry Legend”– and current president of the Indiana Pacers recently spoke with ESPN’s Baxter Holmes about the nuances of his shooting technique, why he never got tired in games, the relief he felt upon retirement, the challenges that come with mentoring new and younger players, and more.

When asked during the interview if he missed the game, Bird said: “It’s funny. When I retired, I thought I’d really miss it. But I really feel like there was a weight lifted off my shoulders. I couldn’t believe it.”

He also added: “I worked out so hard in the summers that once it was over, you just move on. It’s time to move on. I do get excited when we play in the playoffs in a big game.”

Bird was also asked about how he believes the old science and medicine methods to ensure players stay in shape compare to those existing today.

“The one thing I would’ve liked to have had was core strength,” he said. I remember [Robert] Parrish never touched the ball in the summer, but he did yoga. That’s a major part of it — stretching and breathing. But me, I had to run my 3 miles to warm up. I had to ride my bike 12½ miles. I had to sprint. I always felt that I had to do more, more, more. That’s why I broke down. That core strength, I think, would’ve taken care of most of that, other than the conditioning.”

Bird also briefly discussed how running and sprinting were a big part of his conditioning. When asked if he thought he would have played longer if he hadn’t done as much running as he did, Bird said: “Probably. But I couldn’t [not do all that running]. I had that thing in my body that told me to get up and go — that clock. When it’s time to run, you go run. That’s just the way I was.”

Finally, Bird explained his mentality of focusing on one game at a time, rather than looking at the ‘big picture’ like the remainder of a season, the playoffs, or the rest of his career, as some coaches like the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich suggest doing.

“One game. My thoughts were always that that night was the most important game in the world,” he said. “Everybody in the world was watching that one game. And I had to be the best player on the court and win that game that night. That was my mentality, and it stuck with me all the way through my career. But knowing that, I knew that I was going to pay for it in a hard way. That’s probably why, when I retired, after the press conference, I probably felt relief.”

SPRINGFIELD, MA – AUGUST 8: Larry Bird arrives for the 2014 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonyat Symphony Hall on August 8, 2014 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)