Kyrie Irving, star point guard for the NBA‘s Brooklyn Nets, looks poised to refuse New York’s vaccine mandates, meaning that he will be forced to sit out all home games, Fox News reported.
The Nets’ belief that Irving will get vaccinated is deteriorating as the season approaches, according to an ESPN report.
The Nets initially thought that Irving would eventually get the jab, but apparently the organization’s “hope is dwindling,” and they believe that they might be without him at home for the “foreseeable future.”
Irving’s approach to the vaccine remains “unclear,” said the source.
The organization has not made a decision regarding his status as a “part-time player” if he remains unvaccinated.
According to the NBA’s policy, players who do not play in games due to refusal to get vaccinated will not receive payment for those games.
The all-star point guard stands to lose $17 million dollars.
When asked about the matter on the Nets’ media day, Irving remained non-committal.
“Obviously I’m not able to be present there today,” Irving told reporters. “But that doesn’t mean I’m putting any limits in the future on my being able to join the team.”
Irving has become the face of the NBA’s anti-vaxxers in recent weeks, leading a vocal minority in resistance to the league’s tyrannical policy.
Leftist New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that Irving would receive no exception from the rule.
“We have a rule that has to be applied, whether you’re famous, whether you’re not famous, you know, whether you’re an everyday working man or woman—get vaccinated because that’s what makes us all safe,” he said.
“I’m a fan of Kyrie,” the mayor added. “I would just appeal to him, get vaccinated. Your fans want to see you. We all want you back. Your teammates want you back.”
