About 50-60 NBA players were not vaccinated prior to the start of the NBA pre-season. One of those players is 7-time all-star guard, Kyrie Irving. While the NBA does not require vaccination, certain cities do. Since, Kyrie plays for the Brooklyn Nets and New York has a strict vaccine policy, Kyrie will be forced to sit out all home games. He might also have to lose $380,000 per game, which amounts to $16 million of his $35 million contract for the upcoming year. Kyrie can play with his teammates in Orlando and Houston, but not New York and Oakland.
Kyrie hasn’t elaborated on his reasons for remaining unvaccinated or even publicly confirmed his vaccination status. Some members in the NBA community support his decision while others are upset. Teammate Kevin Durant said, “Kyrie’s vaccination status was Irving’s “personal decision and the Nets trust in Kyrie.” On the other hand, former NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stated: “The NBA should insist that all players and staff are vaccinated or remove them from the team. There is no room for players who are willing to risk the health and lives of their teammates, the staff and the fans simply because they are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation.”
Joe’s Perspective: Kyrie’s personal dilemma is emblematic of the dilemma that is facing millions of Americans across this country. President Biden has instituted a policy that all employers with 100+ employees must mandate vaccination in the workplace. So, some 50,000 teachers in New York City are set to lose their job if they don’t get vaccinated and tens of thousands of health care providers nationally will receive the same fate if they do not get vaccinated. I can certainly see both sides on this issue. In the end, I am uncomfortable with mandates and coercion. I believe everyone can and should make their own health care decisions. I side with Lebron James on this one. I am not going to tell anyone what medicine to put in their bodies.
Your Turn: If you could waive a magic wand to fix this issue, what would be your wish?
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I would not be forcing any player to get the vaccine, because even though I think that it’s safe and generally a good health decision, at the end of the day it’s a personal decision that everyone should get to make. If it is mandated for players or employees to get the vaccine, that violates everything that this country was built on especially personal or individual freedom.
I wouldn’t make the player get vaccinated, that is something to do with their health if they want to get vaccinated let them but if they don’t then don’t make them.
I would wish you are not forced to do something you do not want to do but. If a player does not want to get vaccinated it’s their choice for their own health
I would wish the teams would stay out of the player’s life because I don’t think it’s right for them to be forced or even ask the players if there vaccinated.
I believe that if a player does not want to be vaccinated they should not be forced to. There should be more freedom with the vaccinations as most of them do not have the flu shot.
I think if you do not want to be vaccinated then you shouldn’t have to. Anything that concerns a persons body should be their choice
I think if you do not want to be vaccinated then you shouldn’t have to. Anything that concerns a persons body should be their choice, and if I could wave a magic wand then I would make covid go away
I think that you should have a option to be vaccinated or not it’s ridiculous people should have a choice
I wouldn’t force a player to get vaccinated because it’s their choice for their health
I feel as if that players should have the choice to be vaccinated because if they were forced into taking it, that might impact the game negatively rather than having the choice
If your state or city requires it then you should get it. I would give them the choice and strongly encourage it.
I think it should be your choice to get the vaccine
I think it should be your choice to get the vaccine and should not be affected by others
I think that people should get a choice if they want to be vaccinated or not
I would not be forcing a player to get the vaccine. It is his or her choice and if they don’t want to who cares they can risk there selves getting it.
My wish would be to not care. Looks like I have the magic wand.
I think that no one should force anything on anyone and that if it is your body it’s your choice.
I think that no one should force anything on anyone and if it is your body it’s your choice.
I think that getting vaccinated is a personal decision, but I also belive that the more people get the vaccine the safer it’s going to be
I do not believe players should be forced to be vaccinated. This country runs on freedom and if we start mandating what we’re aloud to put in our own bodies then this country has been violated of its freedom.
I don’t think you should be forced to do something you aren’t comfortable doing. They should not penalized these players for taking a stand.