Fury over infamous NBA anti-vaxxer Kyrie Irving’s $23m payday

Even though Kyrie Irving’s career has been put on hold, one of America’s most infamous anti-vaxxers is still going to get paid.

Charles Barkley doesn't want Kyrie Irving to get paid.

Basketball legend Charles Barkley is annoyed with NBA star Kyrie Irving’s decision to remain unvaccinated – but especially one specific aspect of it.

Barkley — during TNT’s Inside the NBA tip-off show on Wednesday — took issue with the fact the Brooklyn Nets star will still earn millions of dollars this season, despite not playing due to his unvaccinated status under New York’s Covid-19 mandate.

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Because of the ongoing pandemic, New York has implemented new health and safety regulations which do not allow unvaccinated athletes to take part in practices and games.

It meant Irving would not be allowed to play home games in the Big Apple and last week the Nets went further by declaring he was barred from all practices and games because of his refusal to be vaccinated.

But Barkley is upset Irving will still be getting paid.

“The only thing that bugs me is he’s still going to make $US17 million ($AUD23 million) sitting at home,” Barkley said.

“I really am proud of the Nets for putting their foot down — for saying, ‘No, we’re not going to deal with this half on, half off (situation)’,” the Hall of Famer added about Brooklyn’s decision to ban Irving from the team until he complies with the state’s vaccine mandate.

Irving will not be paid for games missed in New York — 41 at Brooklyn’s home at the Barclays Center and two at Madison Square Garden — due to the city’s Covid-19 mandate.

The All-Start guard will, however, be paid for away games, as it is the Nets’ decision to sideline him.

Irving will still be paid approximately $23 million.

Kyrie Irving won’t play unless he gets vaccinated. (Photo by Sarah Stier / Getty Images North America/AFP)

Barkley went on to quote NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who appeared on Inside the NBA earlier in the show to discuss the situation with Irving.

“First of all, you don’t get the vaccine for yourself, you get it for other people. I got vaccinated, I can’t wait to get the booster,” Barkley said.

“You don’t get vaccinated just for yourself. Like Adam (Silver) said, you get vaccinated for your family first, you get vaccinated for your teammates second. That’s what bothers me about this whole thing.”

Barkley also dismissed the public comparisons between Irving and Muhammad Ali. The late boxing legend put his fight career on hold to not fight in the Vietnam War, and instead protest racism at home.

“People are saying he’s like Ali. First of all, don’t ever compare anyone to Ali. Ali went three years without boxing when he was the highest-paid athlete in the world,” Barkley said, reiterating that Kyrie “is going to make $17 million for sitting at home”.

The Irving-less Nets lost their season-opener on Wednesday against the Bucks, 127-104, despite Aussie Patty Mills’ heroics.

Kyrie Irving is . (Photo by Sarah Stier / Getty Images North America/AFP)

Speaking about his decision not to be vaccinated, Irving last week was clear he wasn’t going to retire over the stand-off, as some pundits speculated.

“It’s reality that in order to be in New York City, in order to be on the team I have to be vaccinated,” Irving said in a rambling 20-minute Instagram live session that drew over 100,000 viewers.

“I chose to be unvaccinated. And that was my choice. And I would ask y’all just to respect that choice.

“I’m staying grounded in what I believe in.

“It’s not about being anti-vax or about being on one side or the other. It’s about being true to what feels good for me.

“I’m still uncertain about a lot of things. And that’s OK. If I’m going to be demonised about having more questions and taking my time to make a decision with my life, then that’s just what it is.”

This story first appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission