Wednesday late evening, Brooklyn Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving hopped on Instagram live for over 20 minutes to address rumors and narratives that the media has led on. Irving is one of the few remaining active NBA players that refuse the COVID vaccine. 

"Don't believe that I'm retiring," Irving said. "Don't believe that I'm going to give up this game for a vaccine mandate or staying unvaccinated. Don't believe any of that sh*t man."

The NBA spotlight is so heavy on Irving because him being allowed to fully participate with the team is the difference between the Nets being strong title contenders.

For Nets media day, Irving was not allowed to be there physically and had to participate via Zoom. Brooklyn’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, issued a mandate that requires athletes residing in New York and play indoors to show proof of at least one vaccine shot.

If the mandate remains and Irving is not vaccinated to start the season season, he would miss Brooklyn’s 41 home games as well as the two away games at Madison Square Garden (New York Nicks arena). Missing half the season would also cost him millions.

The only way the situation works in favor of the Brooklyn Nets is if Irving gets vaccinated or if Irving is pardoned the New York executive order pertaining to the vaccine.

More from Irving’s live: 

“Just know that I'm rocking with all those that have lost their jobs to this mandate, and I'm rocking with all those that chose to get vaccinated and are choosing to be safe, as well. I'm on both sides of all this. I support and respect everybody's decision.”

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"The financial consequence and stuff, I know I do not want to even do that, but it's reality that in order to be in New York City, in order to be on the team, I have to be vaccinated. I chose to be unvaccinated and that was my choice, and would ask you all just to respect that choice. I am going to just continue to stay in shape, be ready to play, be ready to rock out with my teammates and be part of this whole thing.”