Kyrie Irving’s vaccination status was a big talking point in the NBA world prior to the start of the season. Irving chose not to get vaccinated, which ruled him out of home games for the Brooklyn Nets’ home games due to New York’s vaccine mandate. As a result, the Nets dropped him from the team until further notice.
Irving garnered a lot of criticism for his decision not to get vaccinated. But there were a lot of people who supported his decision. Some people in Brooklyn even attempted to storm the Barclays Center in a show of support for Irving during a recent Nets’ game.
One of Irving’s most vocal critics has been Stephen A. Smith. Smith slammed Irving for not getting vaccinated, calling it a selfish move, and blamed him for potentially jeopardizing the Nets’ championship aspirations going into the season.
Most recently, the NFL world has witnessed a controversy over the same subject. Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers has gone into isolation over the NFL’s health and safety protocols, despite claiming to have been immunized by the vaccine prior to the start of the season.
Smith commented that Rodgers should be punished for his actions. But Jay Williams took umbrage with Stephen A. Smith for not showcasing the same vitriol and venom that he did toward Kyrie Irving, even though Irving never lied about his vaccination status, and didn’t do anything irresponsible like Rodgers.
“I have this gripe with you, and I wrote down some things that you said here. Three-and-a-half weeks ago you said ‘It amounts to betrayal’ for Kyrie, ‘flat out stupid,’ ‘bad teammate,’ ‘selfish’ … Oct. 16 on CNN, ‘to hell with you’ — you say all these things about Kyrie Irving, and he was very upfront and honest about his situation. He wasn’t jeopardizing anyone else. He didn’t put anybody else on the Brooklyn Nets at risk… I just didn’t feel the same venom — I didn’t feel the same energy that was associated with Kyrie Irving, and a part of me wonders why. How come you don’t hold Aaron Rodgers — who lied — to the same standard?”
Irving’s fate could change, as the city could uplift the vaccine mandate, allowing him to play once again. Or he could eventually decide to take the vaccine. But Jay Williams wasn’t happy with the double standards that Stephen A. had for Irving and Rodgers and suggested that had more to do with Smith’s dislike of Irving.
The Nets do miss Kyrie, and Kevin Durant has openly admitted to the same. But they are currently moving forward without him. Until there is any significant update on the vaccination situation regarding Irving, he will not be on the court of the Barclays Center in a Nets uniform.
