Kyrie Irving said Wednesday night that he still hopes to return and play for the Brooklyn Nets but that "this is about my life and what I am choosing to do" as he explained his decision to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Irving, speaking on Instagram Live, said he is neither pro- nor anti-vaccine and that he fully understands the ramifications of his decision.
"The financial consequences, I know I do not want to even do that," Irving said. "But it is reality that in order to be in New York City, in order to be on a team, I have to be vaccinated.