All-Star Point Guard and former Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving was removed from the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, with management confirming he can no longer participate until he complies with the medical mandate.
“Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant. Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose,” reads a statement from General Manager Sean Marks.
Nets announce Kyrie Irving is banned from team until he's vaccinated https://t.co/vyewciLzvf pic.twitter.com/Wo3nedVhTv
— New York Post (@nypost) October 12, 2021
“Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability. It is imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-established values of togetherness and sacrifice,” he adds.
Kyrie giving a kid his jersey OFF HIS BACK 🤞 (via @BrooklynNets) pic.twitter.com/iRggDRKWuX
— Overtime (@overtime) October 9, 2021
“Our championship goals for the season have not changed, and to achieve these goals each member of our organization must pull in the same direction. We are excited for the start of the season and look forward to a successful campaign that will make the borough of Brooklyn proud,” the GM concluded.
Read his full statement here.
