Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving: Gave up 4-year, $100M-plus extension to be unvaccinated

ESPN ^ | September 27, 2022 | Nick Friedell

[PittsburghAfterDark]

NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving says he turned down a four-year extension prior to the 2021-22 season because of his decision not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

"I gave up four years, 100-and-something million deciding to be unvaccinated and that was the decision," Irving said during Nets media day on Monday. "[Get this] contract, get vaccinated or be unvaccinated and there's a level of uncertainty of your future, whether you're going to be in this league, whether you're going to be on this team, so I had to deal with that real-life circumstance of losing my job for this decision."

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I thank Kyrie Irving for taking a stand on this. So few of us were willing to risk our careers and future income to stop this madness.

Irving did stand up for his principles, but then he can afford to - he's already a multi-millionaire. Expecting working folks living from paycheck to paycheck to throw themselves into unemployment to support a principle is not realistic.

[Honest Nigerian]

Jesus posed the following question:
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his soul?
Easy to ask.
Easy to answer.
Not so easy when it comes down to real life.

[PGR88]

The man thought ,no so long ago ,the world was flat.

I don't know this person, but otherwise, good for him - I appreciate that at least, he has the courage of his convictions, is willing states his beliefs -- and let the public decide.

[whitney69]

But don’t feel sorry for him on this. Giving up a $100M deal is not that important for him.

Irving has an estimated net worth of $100 million in pocket. He has $35 million per year in average annual contract salary. He has endorsement deals with Pepsi, Skullcandy, Nike, and other brands. Irving has a shoe deal with Nike worth approximately $11 million, and Irving’s signature shoes are among the best-selling Nike shoes. Between June 2017 and June 2018, Kyrie earned $36 million from salary and endorsements. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned $43 million. Between June 2019 and June 2020, he earned $40 million. He could walk away right now and have money for the rest of his life without a basketball contract.

As for the lawsuits, the members of the NBA are also governed by a union contract. And their contracts, that have to be signed before a player, coach, or team follower can join the team, includes ethics, conduct, and behavior. Not sure if a lawsuit can be filed.

wy69

[dfwgator]

It’s called “FU Money”.

[Theophilus]

I’d love to have that man’s autograph. I can’t say that about many players in the NBA /understatement.

[cgbg]

Today I took the dog for a consultation with a vet surgeon (N CT burbs).

Their web sites said masks were required.

They had signs everywhere saying masks were required.

But—I knew it was all bluff when the receptionist greeted me outside not wearing a mask.

Sure enough—nobody inside (including the surgeon) had masks.

They just hadn’t bothered to update their web site or take down the signs.

It is so over.

Now let the million lawsuits bloom....

[whitney69]

You begin to wonder how much is enough? So many people equate money or fame with a successful and good life. Neither means squat. Your contribution to man is more important than money or worth. And that doesn’t always mean giving away money. It means giving of your self for the good of society.

Irving reportedly has donated $1.5 million to WNBA players who opted out of the bubble last season. He bought a house for the family of George Floyd. He has attended and given to BLM protests some organized in part by Black Lives Matter activist Hawk Newsome. There’s a lot more, but giving money to rich people to further his cause, helping to support an organization that promotes violence to accomplish its goals, and donating to a common criminal is not the type of concern for mankind that his marketers are trying to portray.

As a basketball team player (entertainer) and forgetting the vaccine mandate, he wanted out of Cleveland because he didn’t want to play with LeBron James. That’s his choice but he has a commitment to the team and the fans he is being advertised as playing to promote the team. But now that he has made “enough” money to do what he wants, he is now above this? Not hardly.

wy69

[Manuel OKelley]

I understand, but pretty sure my family would rather be in relative poverty with me around than be ok for now and face relative poverty down the road without me.

[Manuel OKelley]

For em there is no price.

There is always a way, it may be unpleasant, austere, or even painful but I’ll be here.

[discostu]

The NBA didn’t force anybody to get vaccinated. Kyrie’s problem was that the team he plays for is in a city where THEY said all “big” gatherings (like live sports) everybody had to be vaccinated. Not to mention other cities where the NBA plays. Nobody is going to give a big dollar extension to a guy that legally can’t play in over half the games. Once the mandates went away and he could be useful there you go.

[fr_freak]

Expecting working folks living from paycheck to paycheck to throw themselves into unemployment to support a principle is not realistic.

First, principles are ALWAYS worth standing up for or they aren't principles. There WERE a lot of people who lost their jobs because they refused to take the vax. Hell, there were a lot of military people who got kicked out of the service for not receiving the vax.

Second, this was always far, far more than just some everyday principle, like not taking the last piece of pie. There has been, since the beginning, plenty of readily-available information to suggest that the "vaccines" were not only not effective but had the possibility of life-long debilitating side effects, or even death. Weighed against the minimal risk from COVID, acceptance of the "vaccine" was pure madness. Taking the shot just to keep your job? What good is your job if you are disabled or dead?

A whole lot of people caved on the shot for convenience or peer pressure. Nothing more.

[Antoninus]

Good for him. I hope he sues the hell out of the NBA.