Kyrie Irving Benched By NBA’s Brooklyn Nets Over Covid Vaccine Refusal

The Brooklyn Nets have benched All-Star guard Kyrie Irving indefinitely due to his decision not to get the Covid vaccine.

New York City’s vaccine mandate, which covers indoor venues including the Nets’ arena, Barclays Center, requires all people entering to have had at least one vaccine dose. Along with San Francisco and LA, the New York’s mandate had put the squeeze on NBA players as the league prepares to begin its season next week. Had the Nets not acted, they would have lost Irving’s services for at least half of their games as well as home practice sessions. Pressed by reporters during the preseason about how he intended to handle being able to play only half of the time, Irving repeatedly requested “privacy,” calling his decision a personal matter.

About 95% of NBA players were vaccinated as of the end of September, ESPN reported. Several of them have faced scrutiny over their murky stances, including LeBron James, who finally revealed having had the shot after refusing for months to specify his status. Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors received the vaccine earlier this month, after initially vowing not to. Money, of course, plays a significant role in the decision-making. Irving was slated to make almost $35 million this season under his four-year deal with the Nets.

“Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. “Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability. It is imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-established values of togetherness and sacrifice.”

With Irving and fellow superstars Kevin Durant and James Harden having all arrived at the Nets over the past couple of seasons, the team has become a heavy favorite to win the NBA title. Even without Irving, it is still considered a top contender.

“Our championship goals for the season have not changed, and to achieve these goals each member of our organization must pull in the same direction,” Marks added.

In a press briefing, Marks said he viewed the situation straightforwardly and did not express concern about potential blowback from the players’ union or Irving himself.

“This is a choice Kyrie had and he was well aware it it,” Marks said. “We had many conversations about it.”

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