'It's not about money, it's about freedom': Kyrie Irving doubles down on refusing COVID vaccine even though he'll lose half his $35million salary by missing Nets games
Kyrie Irving stands to lose around half his $34.9 million salary this season by refusing to get vaccinated, but the Brooklyn Nets guard said he doesn't regret his decision to defy New York's COVID-19 injection mandate.
'So what? It's not about the money,' Irving said. 'It's not always about the money. It's about choosing what's best for you. You think I really want to lose money?'
The Nets decided Tuesday that Irving wouldn't be with the team because he isn't eligible to play in home games, where a New York mandate requires professional athletes on one of the city's teams to be vaccinated to practice or play in public venues.
In addition to playing road games, Irving could have been allowed to practice in Brooklyn because the team's training center is considered a private workplace and not a public arena. Regardless, the team decided to sideline him indefinitely until he's vaccinated or a permanent solution can be reached.
Kyrie Irving stands to lose around half his $34.9 million salary this season by refusing to get vaccinated, but the Brooklyn Nets guard said he doesn't regret his decision to defy New York's COVID-19 injection mandate
Speaking on Instagram Live, Irving said he loved basketball and shot down any suggestion that he could retire over the issue.
'I am doing what's best for me,' he said Wednesday. 'I know the consequences here and if it means that I'm judged and demonized for that, that's just what it is. That's the role I play, but I never wanted to give up my passion, my love, my dream just over this mandate.'
Irving said he supported people who were and weren't vaccinated and expressed appreciation for doctors. The All-Star guard didn't give any indication that he was against being vaccinated, just that he was deciding not to.
'Once again, I'm going to repeat this. This is not about the Nets, this is not about the organization, it's not about the NBA, it's not politics,' Irving said. 'It's not any one thing.
'It's just about the freedom of what I want to do.'
Irving had been mysteriously absent from some ticket sales promotions and team advertisements in recent weeks. He, James Harden (right) and Kevin Durant (left) were expected to form the core of an NBA-title contender this season
Irving hasn't spoken to reporters since the Nets' media day on September 27, when he appeared via Zoom and asked for privacy when questioned about his vaccination status.
The Nets are championship contenders and Irving said he didn't want to miss the opportunity he has with them. General manager Sean Marks said the team would gladly welcome Irving back under the right circumstances, and Irving made clear he was going to play again.
'No, I'm not retiring and no I'm not going and leaving this game like this,' Irving said. 'There's still so much more work to do and there still so many other [youngsters] to inspire, because I know they want to be better than me.'
As explained by former Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks (no relation to current GM Sean Marks), the Nets were not allowed to dock Irving's pay for road games missed because that was a team decision and not the result of a citywide mandate. The NBA and the players' union previously agreed that players will lose 1/91.6th of their salary for every game missed without proper cause this season. Currently Irving stands to lose $381,000 for every home game he misses this season, which could total $15.5 million if he's held out of all 41 contests
Sean Marks told reporters Tuesday that Kyrie Irving will be paid for the road games he misses. Currently Irving stands to lose $381,000 for every home game he misses this season, which could total $15.5 million if he's held out of all 41 contests.
The decision was made by Nets owner Joe Tsai (left) and general manager Sean Marks (right)
Marks told reporters on Tuesday that the decision was made by himself and team owner Joe Tsai after several meetings with Irving and his representatives.
Marks also explained to reporters that Irving will be paid for the road games he misses, so he should retain around $17 million of his $34.9 million salary this season.
The NBA and the players' union previously agreed that players will lose 1/91.6th of their salary for every game missed without proper cause this season.
Currently Irving stands to lose $381,000 for every home game he misses this season, which could total $15.5 million if he's held out of all 41 contests at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
Los Angeles and San Francisco are the only other NBA cities with vaccine mandates. However, Canada does have rigid travel restrictions, so unvaccinated players facing the Raptors in Toronto will be quarantined in their rooms when they're not playing or practicing.
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