Kyrie Irving has been known for being the hottest trade in the NBA right now. Since his departure, the former NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers has seen less success in the playoffs. A huge part of the problem is Irving’s refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to the New York City mandate, Irving was not allowed to play home games for the Brooklyn Nets.

Subsequently, he only played 29 out of a potential 82 games for the Nets last season. Shaquille O’Neal talked about this nature of Irving on an episode of ‘The Big Podcast‘ titled ‘The Big Shaqstrumental‘.?

Kyrie Irving opted into his $37 million player option with the Nets. The Nets refused to give Kyrie Irving a contract extension in light of his seemingly lack commitment to the game and playing basketball. Shaquille O’Neal called out Kyrie Irving’s decision-making and his lack of winning mentality on his podcast. O’Neal was critical of Irving’s outlook on the team. He felt NBA championships and legacies are not built without sacrifice.?

Shaquille O’Neal brought up the fact that the Monkeypox scare would also likely affect Irving the same way COVID-19 did. Irving recently also said that basketball is not his only priority. With the vaccine debacle, lack of commitment to basketball, and poor treatment of the Brooklyn Nets roster, Irving unfortunately turned out to be a recipe for disaster for the Nets.

Shaquille O’Neal critiques Kyrie Irving with the Monkeypox example

Since then, his opinion has largely stayed the same. Shaquille O’Neal said,?“Sometimes you have to sacrifice for the betterment of everybody else, he didn’t want to sacrifice. He did not want to play the home games. That’s not what it takes to win a championship. What if Monkeypox comes around?

A major piece in James Harden asking for a trade from Brooklyn to the Philadelphia 76ers was him not being interested in compensating for Irving’s absence. Irving essentially forced Harden out of Brooklyn. It was also reported that Irving had a fallout with Nets coach Steve Nash.?

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The Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaq questioned Irving’s integrity and sacrifice to his peers and if Irving really has a championship-caliber mentality.

Shaquille O’Neal does not want Irving around

On an earlier episode of ‘The Big Podcast,’ Shaquille O’Neal gave his opinion on Kyrie Irving and his unvaccinated status. Shaquille talked about how Irving has proven to be detrimental to the Brooklyn Nets’ success.?

Shaq said,?”But if you’re on my team and you can’t play home games, I don’t want you around. Like, we have a chance to win and if you ain’t on the program, go somewhere else, period.”

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The Big Diesel is not in favor of Kyrie Irving’s approach to the sport. What do you think of Shaq’s comments on Kyrie Irving? Let us know in the comments below.?