The NBA’s Kyrie problem
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 15 October 2021
⏱️ ? minutes
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Summary
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has been benched over his decision not to get vaccinated. Today on Post Reports we discuss what responsibilities famous athletes bear and why this story is resonating beyond the basketball world.
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Kyrie Irving has been benched indefinitely because of his refusal to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. His team, the Brooklyn Nets, has been favored to win the NBA title this year, but that is now being thrown into question.
Irving has long been a controversial figure in the league, because of his outspokenness and his espousing of baseless conspiracy claims. But the stakes and implications of his stance are high, with hundreds of millions of dollars and a championship on the line.
NBA reporter Ben Golliver says that beyond the court, the situation raises questions about the social responsibility public figures bear and the collective impact of one individual’s choice.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | No body should be forced to do anything with their bodies. |
| 0:06.0 | Like you only get one of these. |
| 0:09.4 | If you choose to give a vaccine, I support you. |
| 0:12.5 | If you choose to be unvaccinated, I support you. |
| 0:15.5 | Do what's best for you. |
| 0:18.3 | Kyrie Irving is one of the NBA's most popular and most entertaining players. |
| 0:22.6 | That's Ben Gulliver. |
| 0:23.6 | He is the NBA reporter for the post. |
| 0:26.3 | Kyrie Irving? |
| 0:27.3 | Oh, we can't miss! |
| 0:29.3 | He's part of a big three on the Brooklyn Nets. |
| 0:32.9 | Harden. |
| 0:33.9 | Nice look, Dorat. |
| 0:35.4 | Harden off the double. |
| 0:36.9 | Irving waits. |
| 0:38.1 | Oh, yeah! |
| 0:39.9 | Who are the leading favorites to win the championship in 2022? |
| 0:44.0 | But he's sort of become a lightning rod here over the last couple of weeks because he has |
| 0:47.9 | chosen not to be vaccinated. |
| 0:50.5 | And that choice has kept Kyrie off the court and it's jeopardizing his team shot at a |
| 0:55.2 | championship. |
| 0:56.2 | Okay. |
... |
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