NBA star Kyrie Irving says he lost lucrative contract over COVID vaccine refusal

Irving missed Nets home games last season due to not being vaccinated before the measures were relaxed in New York in March. Above all, he did not get a lucrative new contract, according to his own words.

"Because I chose not to vaccinate, I lost out on a four-year contract worth more than a hundred million dollars," Irving was quoted by Reuters. "I could either sign and get vaccinated or not get vaccinated and live in the uncertainty of losing my job," he added.

Irving is under contract with Brooklyn until the end of next season with an income of $36.5 million. However, he believes that if it were not for the vaccination scandal, he would have signed a multi-year deal with the club.

"We wanted to have it sorted out before the start of training last year. In the end, I was in a situation where they gave me an ultimatum if I would have a contract or if I would be in the team," said the Olympic champion and world champion.

Nets general manager Sean Marks objected to Irving's claim. "It's just that we want guys who can be counted on and who are accountable and will be there when needed. He didn't get any ultimatum to get vaccinated. That's purely a personal choice," he said.