NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets acknowledges the fans prior to Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on June 01, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
For a little over a week, Kyrie Irving has been a hot topic of discussion. The Brooklyn Nets player stood against Covid-19 vaccination requirements set by New York City. As a result, Kyrie was banned from practicing and playing with the team until he does get vaccinated. Reactions to his decision have fell on both sides of the fence. However, on Wednesday, Chris Brown publicly stood with Kyrie’s decision.
“The real hero!!!! I stand with my brother,” Chris wrote on his Instagram Story. “WHOEVER DON’T LIKE IT…Go live your damn life.”
As mentioned, New York City has implemented a vaccine mandate. It affects anyone entering an indoor gym, such as Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden. The person must have at least one Covid-19 vaccine.
The Nets reportedly opened their season on Tuesday without Kyrie. According to Yahoo Sports, he’s being fined more than $380,000 per missed game. He broke his silence on his stance last week.
“I chose to be unvaccinated, and that was my choice. And I would ask y’all just to respect that choice, and I am gonna just 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,” Kyrie said.
He also clarified that he doesn’t plan to retire, despite bubbling rumors. While defending Kyrie, Chris echoed some of his sentiments.
“IT’S HIS CHOICE AND A DAMN GOOD ONE,” Chris wrote. “ALWAYS IN MY BROTHER’S CORNER.”
Some of the criticism Kyrie’s received focuses on his duty to his NBA teammates. Magic Johnson recently spoke on CBS Mornings. He explained that basketball players set an example.
“People listen to them, they follow them. That’s very important,” Magic said. “Thats why I got my two shots and made sure I put it out on social media. I wanted my community to know that first of all it’s safe.”
He also addressed how opting not to get the vaccine puts the team’s wins at risk.
“The last thing is this. You have said to your teammates ‘I’m gonna be there for you.’ Well you can’t be there if you don’t get vaccinated,” Magic said. “You’re letting them down and then that hurts our chances of winning a championship. I would never do that to my teammates.”
Kyrie has also received similar backlash from sports television personality Stephen A. Smith and radio host Howard Stern.
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