Kyrie Irving is as good a basketball player as he is a reflective and spiritual man.
His athletic talent is undeniable and the Nets are better because of him. Or at least they would be if he was on the court.
The problem is that his deep thoughts are preventing his athletic talents from being showcased on the NBA hardwood.
Last year his season was curtailed due to injury.
This year his season is in jeopardy because of his reluctance to get vaccinated.
Irving’s decision has frustrated his teammates, the Brooklyn Nets organization, NBA fans and the media.
The team has tried their best to accommodate their star point guard. They even worked with the City of New York to have their practice facility designated as a private office building so that Kyrie can practice there with the team.
But even that wasn’t enough to persuade Kyrie to get vaccinated.
As a result, the team has decided to bar him from playing until he gets vaccinated.
“Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant,” said team general manager Sean Marks. “Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose.”
“We’re not looking for partners that are going to be half-time,” continued Marks. “I don’t think that would be fair, not only on the team and staff and ownership and fans, but, to be quite frank, not fair on Kyrie, either.”
Marks and team owner Joe Tsai tried to be flexible before giving Kyrie an ultimatum.
Get the vaccine and you’re in. Refuse and you’re out.
Kyrie chose the latter, which means he can’t even practice with the team at their “private office space.”
“This is a choice that Kyrie had,” said Marks. “And he was well aware of that.”
It’s bewildered and frustrated his head coach, Steve Nash.
“I don’t think that anyone’s really been through this before,” said Nash last week. “Obviously the pandemic has been new to everyone, but now we’re in a position where the pandemic is creating all these different new scenarios as well.”
These are scenarios created by Kyrie Irving, and now his teammates and coaches dancing uncomfortably in front of the mics where they are questioned relentlessly about Kyrie. They don’t want to criticize him so they have to respond generically with “that’s a personal decision” or “you’ll have to ask Kyrie.”
Yet this isn’t the first time that Kyrie has become a lightning rod for attention.
He did it when he gave credibility to the theory that the earth is flat. He did it again last December when he refused to speak with the media.
And don’t forget that he also led the movement against re-starting the season as he felt it would detract from the mission of achieving social justice reform.
All of this begs the question- is Kyrie more trouble than he’s worth?
Kyrie is Selfish?
Two years ago, he signed a 4 year, $136 million deal with the Nets. Once he paired with Kevin Durant, Brooklyn’s championship dreams flourished.
But between the injuries and now his refusal to get vaccinated, Irving has dampened those dreams while becoming a distraction and, arguably, a poor teammate.
As of now, per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Irving is on pace to lose over $16 million in salary this season, half of his overall deal. He will also forgo a $186 million contract extension.
That’s a massive amount of money for sure. Yet Kyrie has never been driven by money.
When he finds a cause to support, he digs in.
He’s supported social justice initiatives and Native American causes (his mother was a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe).
Kyrie Irving isn’t anti-vaccination. Rather, as per Shams, Irving is standing for those who have lost their jobs due to vaccine mandates. He wants to be a source of support for these individuals and their freedom to choose.
“Kyrie wants to be a voice for the voiceless,” a source told Charania.
That’s admirable. Kyrie has every right to stand for what he believes in.
But that really isn’t the issue here.
This is a matter of keeping him, and those around him, safe and healthy. Kevin Durant and James Harden had their first doses of the vaccine and the league is reportedly at a 96% vaccine rate.
Even LeBron relented and got vaccinated when he realized it wasn’t about him but his family.
Some have called Kyrie selfish, mostly because these critics feel he’s damaging the team’s chances of winning.
Teammate-wise, that’s understandable. But as a person, that’s harsh.
He bought a house for George Floyd’s mother, paid the tuition for HBCU students, bought Thanksgiving meals for those in need and donated over $1 million to WNBA players.
Kyrie has the right to choose. But for health reasons more so than basketball reasons, it makes sense to get the shot.
People have a right to choose. But that choice comes with consequences. If you’re unvaccinated and Covid claims your life, you won’t be around to support those who want the freedom to choose.
Kyrie’s public stance has caused a distraction for the team once again. And, just like last year, Irving is in jeopardy of missing significant playing time.
Even worse, right-wing media and conservative Black personalities have picked up on his stance and are weaponizing it for their own use. This includes conspiracy theories, claims of election fraud, and other ridiculous, frivolous beliefs.
That alone should motivate him to get vaccinated.
Kyrie must be respected for his ability to stand firm in his beliefs despite the backlash, and fans love him for it.
He’s a rare combination of talent, reflection, athleticism, and perspective.
And while Kyrie is a distraction, he’s not (yet) a detriment. As a result, his value currently outweighs the controversy.
But his penchant for attracting attention off the court surely resides in the minds of the entire Nets family, and I’m sure he’s gotten the side-eye more than once.
Should Kyrie maintain his position, the Nets will soon have to make a choice.
Do they play without him or attempt to trade him?
It’s a tough decision but sports is a business. So if Kyrie is impeding progress and money, the choice becomes clearer.
