Remember that controversial post by Kyrie Irving on Twitter where he discussed removing masks and clarified it wasn’t related to the pandemic? It seems that it might indeed be pandemic-related.
Irving may face exclusion from home games due to reports of his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. As things stand, if the season were to kick off now, the Brooklyn Nets star would not be permitted to play at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn due to New York’s mandate requiring indoor activities to be vaccinated.
In a recent piece by Rolling Stone, the publication delves into the NBA’s vaccination dilemma, highlighting Kyrie Irving’s apparent embrace of various conspiracy theories circulating on the internet.
From the article:
“Irving, who holds a position as a vice president on the players’ union executive committee, has recently begun interacting with and endorsing Instagram posts from a conspiracy theorist alleging that ‘secret societies’ are using vaccines to link Black individuals to a master computer as part of a ‘Satanic plan.’ This misinformation campaign regarding Moderna microchips has reportedly made its way through several NBA locker rooms and group chats, based on input from over a dozen current players, Hall-of-Famers, league officials, arena staff, and virologists interviewed for this story within the past week.”
According to a report from Fox Sports, the NBA has made multiple attempts to persuade unvaccinated players, including providing scientific evidence on the safety and advantages of the vaccine, easing protocols for vaccinated players, and offering incentives for postseason play.
“We tried every avenue,” revealed an NBA staff member. “None of it had an impact.”
Social media has been critical of Irving’s actions online:
