Nets' All-Star guard Irving persists to be unvaccinated

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Brooklyn Nets' All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving still insists not to get his coronavirus jab as the basketball superstar can lose millions for this reason.

"I am doing what’s best for me. I know the consequences here and if it means that I’m judged and demonized for that, that’s just what it is," Irving said on Instagram on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old said he loves to play basketball and does not plan to retire for this reason.

"That’s the role I play, but I never wanted to give up my passion, my love, my dream just over this mandate."

"It’s not always about the money. It’s about choosing what’s best for you. You think I really want to lose money?" Irving said about his stance.

"Once again, I’m going to repeat this. This is not about the Nets, this is not about the organization, it’s not about the NBA, it’s not politics," Irving said.

"It’s not any one thing.

"It’s just about the freedom of what I want to do."

The 2021-22 NBA regular season is set to begin on Oct. 19.

The Nets previously said on Tuesday they will prohibit Irving from practicing and playing with the team because of his decision to refuse the coronavirus vaccine.

Irving is ineligible to play under New York City's COVID-19 regulations, which mandate that anyone entering an indoor gym have at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The Barclays Center, where the Nets play, is considered a gym under the city's regulations, as is Madison Square Garden, the home of neighboring New York Knicks.

There has not been a league-wide vaccine mandate, but Irving will not be paid for games he misses under NBA rules that stipulate players are ineligible for payment if they cannot play due to refusal to adhere to local COVID-19 mandates.

If Irving misses the Nets' home games for disobeying the New York City's health regulations for indoor gyms, he seems to be paid half of his $35-million salary.

A seven-time All-Star, Irving won the 2016 NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He joined the Nets in 2019 but previously played for the Boston Celtics.