Kyrie Irving has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons over the last year or two. Whether it be stating that his team didn’t really need a coach or refusing to get vaccinated or causing trouble behind the scenes for the Brooklyn Nets, he has become a very unlikeable figure in the eyes of the public.
Most, if not all of it, is his fault, so it’s hard to feel too sympathetic towards Kyrie. He shouldn’t expect anything else when he makes outrageous claims, like when he recently stated that the vaccine mandate is one of the biggest human rights violations in history. He isn’t going to stop saying things like this, as he feels too strongly about his beliefs and it will cost him moving forward.
Sean Marks Denies That The Team Didn’t Offer A Contract To Kyrie Irving Because Of His Unvaccinated Status
Irving feels it has already cost him a ton, as he stated during their media day that he gave up around $100 million to be unvaccinated. He felt that he and the Nets couldn’t come to an agreement on an extension last year just because of his vaccination status. He felt that the organization was giving him an ultimatum to get vaccinated for his extension, but GM Sean Marks stated that was not the case.
via ESPN:
“There’s no ultimatum being given here,” Marks said. “Again, it goes back to you want people who are reliable, people who are here, and accountable. All of us: staff, players, coaches, you name it. It’s not giving somebody an ultimatum to get a vaccine. That’s a completely personal choice. I stand by Kyrie. I think if he wants, he’s made that choice. That’s his prerogative completely.”
Marks acknowledged that it was ultimately New York City’s vaccination mandate, coupled with Irving’s anti-vaccination decision, that stalled conversations about the future.
“So two summers ago, that was pre-citywide, statewide mandates that went in,” Marks said. “So once the vaccine mandates came in, and we knew how that would affect [Irving] playing home games and so forth, that’s when contract talks stalled. So it didn’t get to [a point], ‘Here’s the deal, now take it back.’ That never happened.”
Marks explained how contract talks stalled because of the mandate coupled with Irving’s stance, but they would never force someone to get the vaccine. He respects Kyrie’s decision and is happy to have him back on the team for next season.
Kyrie’s long-term future is still very much up in the air, however. Not a lot of teams were interested in trading for him earlier this offseason, with the Lakers seemingly being the only possible landing spot. It will be interesting to see where he ends up next year as he would be a free agent and more teams would perhaps be willing to take a chance on him. Whoever lands him, though, better brace themselves for a ton of drama and tension.
