Kyrie Irving says his ‘mask is off,’ pleads for people to remove theirs and have ‘no fear’

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving posted a tweet on Wednesday stating that his “mask is off,” causing some folks to speculate about the 29-year-old’s feelings on masks amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

It should be noted that the context of Irving’s tweet is unclear, and it’s possible that his statement was unrelated to COVID-19. The seven-time All-Star could have simply been posting a metaphor about something else entirely.

For what it’s worth, Irving was fined at one point during the 2020-21 season for violating the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols.

The former first-round pick is presumably ramping up his preparations for the 2021-22 season. He’s hoping to help the Nets win their first NBA title in franchise history.

In the 2020-21 season, Irving averaged 26.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. He knocked down 50.6 percent of his shots from the field and 40.2 percent of his shots from 3-point land.

Irving is a major part of Brooklyn’s Big 3, which also features Kevin Durant and James Harden. The Nets are hoping that their elite trio will help carry the team to a successful 2021-22 campaign.