A lot of people would have become weak… |
Basketball star rejects mega sum for vaccination!
Collect $ 100 million if you get vaccinated against Corona? Even many vaccination skeptics would probably shout “YES!”.
Basketball superstar Kyrie Irving (30) rejected this offer!
The guard from NBA club Brooklyn Nets still refuses to be vaccinated against COVID.
Because New York State has long banned unvaccinated people from attending public indoor events, he has missed many Nets home games in the last two seasons and has not been allowed to travel to some away games in regions with similar rules (eg Canada).
Now Irving reveals that the decision not only had sporting consequences, but also massive financial ones.
Irving at the Nets pre-season press conference: “I gave up a four-year, $100 million contract to remain unvaccinated. That was my decision.”
Background: The Nets offered Irving an early contract extension totaling $100 million in the summer of 2021. However, under the condition to be vaccinated …
NBA star reveals I gave up 100 million because of vaccination
28.09.2022
Irving: “It was like an ultimatum. I understand the club’s point of view, but this pill was difficult for me to swallow. I had to deal with losing my job for this decision.”
Nets manager Sean Marks says about the negotiations with his star: “You want reliable and responsible people here. That affects us all: employees, coaches, players.”
In plain language: By refusing to be vaccinated, the Nets could not reliably plan that Irving would also be on the floor regularly. So extending the contract was out of the question!
Not the only problem for Irving at the time: According to ESPN, his personal outfitter “Nike” was worried about whether he could continue to be a representative of the brand in the future.
Irving: “I didn’t like that vaccination suddenly became a stigma in my career.”
In the meantime, however, the situation has calmed down.
Irving is entering his final year of contract next season (starting October 19) for $36 million. There are no longer restrictions on the unvaccinated in the USA, so the NBA star can always play.