Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving says choosing not to get a Covid-19 vaccination was a $100m decision.
Last season, 30-year-old- Irving, could not play in the Nets’ home games until March because of New York’s ban on unvaccinated people in indoor venues.
His availability for away games was also dependent on different states’ vaccine requirements.
The seven-time All-Star says his decision not to get vaccinated cost him a four-year contract extension.
He added, “[Get this] contract, get vaccinated or be unvaccinated, and there’s a level of uncertainty of your future, whether you’re going to be in this league, whether you’re going to be on this team, so I had to deal with that real-life circumstance of losing my job for the decision.”
He had expected to sign a new contract in 2021.
The new NBA season starts on October 18th and Irving will play for the Nets on a $36.5m (£33.7m) player option deal but could become a free agent next summer.
BBC