Irving for vaccine: ‘I stand by my decision, I’m not just a basketball player’

Kyrie Irving is adamant about his decision not to get vaccinated, which he made clear when asked by a journalist after the end of the Nets’ game against the Cavaliers. The issue of Irving’s vaccination has been on the NBA’s mind since day one, which is why he has long stayed out of Nets duties.

He has since returned to Brooklyn’s away games, but his decision not to get vaccinated hasn’t changed. As he characteristically states, he has his family to think about while contradicting the notion that he has become the most famous unvaccinated in the NBA.

“I’m not going back to the NBA just for life. For me, what is happening in the real world is more important. It’s not just for me. I respect the views of others and will not try to convince anyone of this. Even now that Durand is injured, I know the organization will protect me and my teammates.

I don’t want to bring science to basketball. My message was and is that I always respect other people’s choices of what they do in their lives and I’m here to support them, but I see what’s happening in my own life day by day. That’s all. Bring the science to basketball and I live my life most of the time when I’m out of basketball. So when I say I don’t get vaccinated, you’re a bit confused about basketball while it’s a life choice. We live in a real world. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I love playing with my teammates, I love playing for the Nets but I’ve had a lot of time to think about how to handle it and make a decision. I know some people disagree.

I hope that things will change not only for me but also for those who remain unvaccinated and are fired from their jobs every day. It’s not just me, I’ve believed it for so long. I understand the questions you’re asking me, but I think sometimes you don’t respect me. I’m not just a basketball player. I have fans and I appreciate all of that, but it’s not just basketball.

The reputation is gradually built up. I hear you say I’m the most famous unvaccinated player, what does that mean? “I don’t know what it means to be at home.”