Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving is expected to miss home games due to refusing to comply with New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Irving was allowed to practice with the team after the Nets’ training facility was considered private. His return to the team’s home court, however, will remain restricted. “I think we recognize he’s not playing home games. We’re going to have to for sure play without him this year. So it just depends on when, where and how much,” Nets Head Coach Steve Nash said. Athletes from New York City-based sports teams who play in an indoor arena are required to receive at least one dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine, even if the athletes themselves are not residents of New York City, according to the city’s executive order (pdf). Irving has not spoken publicly about his decision to refuse to comply with the vaccine mandate since addressing media …