Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving stands to lose $381,000 for every game missed due to being unvaccinated, ESPN reported yesterday.
Per the report, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association agreed on a reduction in pay of 1/91.6th of a player’s salary for missing games due to vaccine regulations in New York City and San Francisco.
Irving has remained steadfast that he will not get the vaccination against the COVID-19 virus. If he continues to hold out, he would miss the Nets’ 41 home games, as long as the regulations remain in place. That would equate to more than $15.5 million lost for Irving, who’s under contract for $34.9 million in 2021-22.
Irving would need proof of at least one vaccine shot in order to practice or play in his own arena, the Barclays Center. In San Francisco, players need to be fully vaccinated. However, once high-profile holdout Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors got his vaccine.
The Nets will hold their first practice on Brooklyn on Tuesday, the first time Irving would be subjected to the regulations. The team opened their training camp in San Diego last week.
The Nets’ home-opener is Oct. 24 against Charlotte.
Unvaccinated players on visiting teams may play in New York City and San Francisco, so long as they return negative tests.
—Field Level Media
