Nets’ Irving says he’s not retiring, but remains unvaccinated

NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving has finally opened up to the public about his future in the league and why he’s not vaccinated.

In an Instagram Live, Irving disclosed not only that he had no plans to retire from the game, but also that his vaccination status has nothing to do with the

Nets or the National Basketball Associa- tion.

“Don’t believe I’m retiring, don’t believe I’m gonna give up this game for a vaccine mandate,” the Nets star said Wednesday night. “All these people saying all these things about what’s going on with me and it’s just not true.”

Irving did not say whether he planned to get vaccinated in the future, just that he made the choice not to be presently.

“It’s reality that in order to be in New York City, in order to be on the team, I have to be vaccinated,” Irving said. “I chose to be unvaccinated and that was my choice and I ask y’all just to respect that choice. And I am just gonna continue to stay in shape, be ready to play, be ready to rock out with my teammates and just be part of this whole thing. This is not a political thing here, this is not about the NBA, this is not about any organization, this is about my life and what I’m choosing to do,” Irving continued.

Nets GM Sean Marks announced Tuesday that Irving would not be allowed at any practices or games regardless of location, until he received a COVID-19 vaccination.