Home

NBA

Shaquille O’Neal, Who Was Against Taking the Vaccine Due to Personal Beliefs, Blasts Kyrie Irving for His Decision: “I’m Looking at 15 Other Guys That Have Families”

Published 07/30/2022, 7:30 PM EDT

Follow Us

via Getty

The Brooklyn Nets entered the previous season as a powerhouse with lofty aspirations. They were, however, one of the biggest disappointments in NBA history. The overall picture is that their campaign was headed for disaster from the outset. In fact, it began after Kyrie Irving refused the COVID-19 vaccination, leaving himself ineligible for every home game.

This robbed the franchise of their most creative scorer, leaving Kevin Durant to handle the bulk of the offensive load. It also served as the initial stage for James Harden’s dissatisfaction, eventually culminating in a reluctant trade for Ben Simmons, who never played a game for them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently opened up on Kyrie’s decision to not get vaccinated. On “The Big Podcast,” O’Neal slammed the flashy point guard for his decision. He said, “The whole vaccine thing, that’s his (Kyrie Irving) belief but guess what, I’m looking at 15 other guys who have families, we try to win this championship, we got KD on the team, we have a chance to win. I’mma go ahead and sacrifice.” 

Shaq, like Irving, was opposed to getting vaccinated; however, his mother’s well-being is what led him to change his stance.

“When that whole thing came up, I heard at both sides, I really did. And I said you know what, I’m not gonna take it. But, 5 mins away lives my world, my mother, my queen and I’m out with people, I shake hands and all that. I’m not trying to get my mamma sick, at all. So guess what? I sacrificed,” the 4-time NBA champion said.

via Getty

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the league’s most decorated players, having won a boatload of accolades. The big man understands that winning is unachievable without making sacrifices.

What’s next for Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets?

While the Brooklyn Nets last season was a flop, their future doesn’t show a different picture. The Nets’ dugout appears to be the perfect embodiment of turmoil, as the franchise’s remaining stars may also depart.

5′9″ Former NBA Star Who Dunked on Shaquille O’Neal, Once Combined for 91 Points With Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving exercised his player option following days of uncertainty about his future. However, Kevin Durant chose to drop another bomb a few days later when he demanded a trade. The forward demanded a trade from the Nets about a month ago, and yet he’s still in Brooklyn.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

via Getty

And the reason is that none of the teams in the league have managed to meet the asking price by the Nets for their ace. Brooklyn wants a lot according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. They want a star player, a number of impact players, and a boatload of draft compensation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

WATCH THIS STORY: Various Sports Teams That LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Other NBA Stars Own: Does the King Own The Red Sox?

A source revealed that the franchise has been in touch with Durant since his trade request shook the league. Another source close to Irving stated that he intends to play for the Nets regardless of whether Durant leaves or not.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Every single day, a new report concerning the stars’ future surfaces. If a solution isn’t reached within the next several days, it might linger into the training camp. If this occurs, it is likely that everything will cool down. And, from the perspective of the Nets, that’s preferable. That is, the franchise will try again and run it back.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Ritvik Malhotra

353Articles

One take at a time

Ritvik is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Ritvik has finally got his foot in the door as a professional sports writer. He previously interned at another media house where he authored over 150 soccer articles, but he is now writing about his primary obsession, basketball.
Show More>

Edited by:

Paras Pande