The Brooklyn Nets are still unable to use Kyrie Irving in all of their games due to state-level Covid-19 restrictions that require all the people attending public events such as basketball games to be vaccinated.
The topic once again came up during a press conference in which reported asked the 29-year-old point guard about his vaccination status. Kyrie maintained his position that he has expressed in the past that he supports those people that are losing their jobs for being unvaccinated also saying that being asked constantly about whether he took the jab or not is a little disrespectful.
“You’re bringing my vaccination status into a basketball game and I live majority of my life when I’m away from this,” Irving said. “So when I say I’m not getting vaccinated, I’m making a choice with my life. Somehow it gets mixed in ‘What about basketball..?’ No, bro. We will live in a real world.
“This is great to be able to do this, I’m grateful for the opportunity. I love being with my teammates, I love playing for the Nets. But I’ve already been away enough time to think about this, to process it to be able to make this decision, stand strong understanding that people are going to agree and some people are going to disagree. The circumstances that are at hand I’m praying that they get changed and I’m able to do things differently.
“And that’s not just for me, that’s for all of those being unvaccinated getting fired from work on a day-to-day basis. It’s not just about me, that’s been my message this whole time. I feel your feeling and emotion asking that question, sometimes it feels a little disrespectful, like I’m not just a basketball player, bro. I’m not.”
Irving has appeared in four games for Brooklyn so far this season. He is averaging 20 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5 assists in 33.5 minutes per game. The Nets are 2-2 with him playing.
