‘What’s being mad going to do?’: Nets star Durant speaks on Irving predicament after teammate sidelined for Covid jab refusal

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Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has spoken out on the predicament of his teammate Kyrie Irving, who’s sidelined because of a refusal to take the Covid vaccine, and claimed that being “mad” on the level guard is not going to change his thoughts.

The Nets introduced on Tuesday by means of basic supervisor Sean Marks that, regardless of being accessible for away video games, Durant will not characteristic in any respect within the upcoming season till he’s a “full participant” beneath New York Metropolis’s vaccine protocol.

That is because of the 29-year-old not having acquired no less than one dose of the Covid vaccine, which guidelines him out of house fixtures on the Barclays Heart and will price him hundreds of thousands of in misplaced earnings.

But after being accused of spreading misinformation, Irving has remained defiant and took to Instagram this week to assert his stance is “not concerning the cash” and merely doing what’s finest for him.

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“I’m not an advocate for both aspect,” he claimed.

“I’m doing what’s finest for me. 

“I do know the implications right here, and if it implies that I am judged and demonized for that, that is simply what it’s – that is the position I play.”

Additionally ruling out retiring as had been rumored, Irving was adamant he has no downside with neither the NBA nor the Nets and that his perspective isn’t about “anyone factor”. 

“It’s simply concerning the freedom of what I need to do,” he said.

Following a 107-101 preseason win in Brooklyn over the reigning champion Minnesota Timberwolves, which Irving would have been made to sit down out anyway, fellow Nets star Durant was probed on the developments. 

“[I] positively need Kyrie to be round,” Durant, who has not spoken to Irving since Marks’ announcement on Tuesday, admitted.

“I want none of these things would occur, however that is the scenario that we’re in. Kyrie made his choice on what he needed to do and he selected to do what he needed to do, and the group did the identical.

“It is on me to simply give attention to me, and do my job, and let these two events deal with that scenario. I need our entire group collectively, and I need us to be at full energy, however generally it do not work out that approach. However I’m nonetheless optimistic that issues will work out the most effective for each events.”

That being stated, Durant additionally will not waste time getting upset about Irving’s absence from an outfit that’s anticipated to problem the Timberwolves’ crown this season.

“We nonetheless get to do [what] we like to do day by day,” he identified.

“This isn’t the best scenario coming into the season. However a few of this, it is out of our management. So, what we are able to do is are available and give attention to our jobs each single day.

“What’s being mad going to do? We aren’t going to vary his thoughts, know what I am saying? We’ll let him work out what he must do and the group work out what they should do.”

“I am unable to be too mad at any person making a choice for themselves,” Durant continued.

“Who am I to get upset at that? Simply give attention to what we bought on this locker room.

“When [Irving] is prepared, I’m positive he’ll speak to [team owner] Joe [Tsai] and Sean [Marks] and so they’ll determine it out and so they’ll inform us. Till then we’re going to hold grinding.”

Subsequent up for the Nets is one other assembly with the Bucks, solely this time of their season opener.

And till Irving is vaccinated, it’s one more conflict he will likely be omitted from.