Kyrie Irving is a famous basketball player who is currently trending because his un-vaccination status is getting in the way of his career. Irving is 29, currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets since 2019, and it can be said that he is one of NBA’s most valuable players. Kyrie Irving was the overall first pick in the 2011 NBA draft being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Though he has been playing all this time and is a big asset to his team, Kyrie will not be able to play or practice in this upcoming season or preseason because he refuses to get vaccinated.

It was confirmed by Brooklyn Nets manager, Sean Marks, that Kyrie is not allowed to play or practice until he is eligible to be a full time member of the team. The NBA gave the Nets as well as the Golden State Warriors a warning about a new vaccine mandate that forbids unvaccinated players to play in home games in New York City and San Francisco. This would mean that Irving would only be able to participate in away games and practices, making him a part-time member of the team. The Nets currently do not allow any part-time members on the team, resulting in Irving not being able to play or practice at all.

“Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose,” Manager Sean Marks said when speaking about the situation. However, Irving’s choice is holding him back from being a full time participant.

Kyrie Irving hasn’t said much about the situation. The last time he talked to reporters was on September 27, 2021 on the Nets’ media day, but he did go live on Instagram clearing a couple things up for his fans. In the past he has told reporters that he would like to keep his vaccination status private. Some of his fans had concerns that he was retiring from the NBA and giving up. In response to that on his live, he said that he won’t give up his dream and passion because of a mandate.

“I chose to be unvaccinated… I would ask you to respect that,” he said.

The NBA said that players who are unvaccinated will not be compensated for games they miss because of neglect to meet health codes. In Irving’s contract with the Nets, it is reported by Spotrac that he was set to make $34.9 million this season. He also makes around $15 million from memorabilia and endorsement deals from Nike and Panini. Kyrie will lose about $380,000 from the Nets per games that he misses due to not meeting the mandate requirements. His sitting out on home games will cost him millions let alone the whole entire season. Kyrie made it clear that his decision is about him doing what’s best for him, even though he doesn’t want to lose his salary.

“It’s not always about the money. It’s about choosing what’s best for you,” he said on his live pertaining to the money he would be losing.

Though Nets fans may be worried about Kyrie not playing, it can be safe to say that his fellow teammate Kevin Durant, also known as KD, is not worried at all. He has told reporters that he isn’t upset with his decision and thinks that everything will work out for him in the end.

“I can’t be too mad at somebody for making a decision for themselves,” said KD.

Kendall Williams, a Regina Dominican student, was asked about her thoughts on the whole situation. She had not heard about Kyrie not getting the vaccination and being able to play this season. “I think he should just get vaccinated like it’s going to help him in the long run. This is going to affect his career,” she said once the scenario was explained to her.

Many people have different thoughts on the situation, but it is said that Kyrie Irving will be welcomed back once he meets the requirements for the mandate.