Kyrie Irving, point guard for the Brooklyn nets, came out to the public as neither pro or anti vaccine but is unvaccinated. 

Irving being unvaccinated breaks New York’s vaccine mandate. The Net’s organization has stopped Irving from practicing and playing with the team until he at least receives one of the vaccines. Sean Marks, general manager of the Nets, claims that the decision to take Irving off the court was made by himself and the team owner Joe Tsai.

Irving has stated that he respects others opinions and is not making this decision to make any statement towards any group. Irving has made it sure that he is not upset with the Net’s decision but definitely will stand his ground until something changes his opinion about the vaccine. It is possible that if Irving continues to choose to be unvaccinated for the rest of the season that he could lose up to 17 million dollars from the games in New York.

Irving is also not the only unvaccinated professional athlete in the news recently. Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers came out publicly that he is unvaccinated on the Pat Mcafee show during his quarantine after testing positive. Rodger initially spoke out questioning professional’s opinions about the vaccine but has since come out saying that he has been unvaccinated due to allergies to ingredients within the vaccines. Rodgers was not able to play in the Packers match against the Kansas City Chiefs which the results did end with a Chiefs win. 

 “I am staying grounded in what I believe in. It is as simple as that. It is not about being anti-vax or about being on one side or the other. It is just really about being true to what feels good for me. … If I am going to be demonized for having more questions and taking my time to make a decision with my life, that is just what it is.” -Kyrie Irving

Irving still questions the efficacy of the vaccines even with the FDA and Dr. Fauci’s approval. He is a tremendous and awarded basketball player who is young and healthy and certainly is someone who looks after their own health but is the vaccine something he should worry about. The NBA reports that 95% of their players are vaccinated or in the process of being fully vaccinated.

Even with the public’s opinions about himself, Irving claims that he will not end his basketball career with this matter about the vaccine.