Kyrie Irving against everyone. That’s what the NBA preseason has become. The point guard continues to keep the entire NBA in suspense about his decision not to receive the coronavirus vaccine and especially some Nets who are already beginning to assume that they will not be able to count on one of their stars in the games that the team plays in New York. That is, more than half the season.
Irving does train with the team after the city of New York will decree that the HSS Training Center – the team’s facilities in Brooklyn – is a private office building and you should not apply the same restrictions as gyms, but still unable to play the games with his teammates by keeping your decision to not wanting to receive the dose of the vaccine against the coronavirus.
A decision that the Nets are beginning to take as final as confessed by the Canadian franchise manager Steve Nash: “I believe that we are beginning to understand that he is not going to play games at home “said the Canadian technician after the training that the team offered in front of its fans in a park in Brooklyn and in which Irving participated with a mask. “We will be sure to play without him this year and his return depends on when, where and how much. We have to remain flexible and have an open mind to try to resolve the situation as it happens.”
We will be sure to play without him this year and his return depends on when, where and how much “
The seven-time NBA all-star player continues to fuel rumors about his decision and a few days ago he posted a message that left little room for doubt: “I am protected by God and so are my people. We are in this together.”. A phrase that has raised a great dust cloud and that adds more gasoline to a fire that can take away the big favorites to win the NBA title this season.
Withdrawal is an option
Irving’s attitude can trigger a premature goodbye to the Brooklyn franchise and the fracture of a ‘Big Three’ called to reign in the NBA season. However, it seems that by the New York offices they start to get tired of the attitude of the base and the word transfer begins to be heard in the environment of the Nets. According to Adrian Wojnarowski the franchise may dispense with the point guard this same course by not accepting his position as a part-time player for refusing to receive the vaccine.
A decision that the point guard would not accept and that is where the most radical option appears in the future of the player born in Australia. Journalist Marc Stein goes one step further and ensures that Irving’s environment is convinced that if the Nets decide to transfer to the point guard, Irving hang up his boots and retire from basketball practice with only 29 years.
Millionaire losses for him
If Irving, what has earned more than 160 million in his career, decides to retire prematurely from basketball could lose the $ 70 million still to collect of his current contract with the Nets. A franchise that until weeks ago was working against the clock to try to expand its ties with the base by four more years and 198 ‘kilos’.
Hopefully we can solve this. We want Kyrie with us for everything “
What does seem clear is what the point guard will stop entering this season if he maintains his decision not to receive the dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Nets guard earns $ 35 million this season and could lose almost half of his earnings ($ 16 million). Irving charges $ 426,000 for each game, so he will lose approximately $ 380,000 for each game he does not play.
“Hopefully we can figure this out. We want Kyrie with us for everything: for the games, for the training sessions, for the shooting sessions … It is difficult when the players enter and leave the lineup and more if it is someone as important as Kyrie “said a Kevin Durant who has already tried to convince his partner to get vaccinated and end up with a soap opera that has put the entire NBA in check.