NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving is not considering retirement; will miss start of season

NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving is not considering retirment. Yet. 

During an Instagram Live late Wednesday night, Kyrie Irving set the record straight on a few things. For one, he doesn’t plan on getting vaccinated at this moment and he understands the repercussions that come with that.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, he doesn’t plan on retiring. And that last note is perhaps the most interesting.

"[via ESPN]“The financial consequences, I know I do not want to even do that,” Irving said. “But it is reality that in order to be in New York City, in order to be on a team, I have to be vaccinated. I chose to be unvaccinated, and that was my choice, and I would ask you all to just respect that choice.…“Nobody is hijacking this voice,” Irving said. “See if they play this on their TV channels and if they play this actual truth somewhere before you start talking about me and what I am doing with my life. And no, I am not retiring. And no, I am not going and leaving this game like this. There is still so much more work to do.”"

That kind of eliminates the notion or belief that Kyrie would retire on the spot were he to be traded. And if Kyrie is not retiring, then it could open the opportunity for the Nets to possibly trade him to a place where he can play this season without being vaccinated – if he continues to remain on that stance.

Again, this could all go away if Kyrie changes his mind and simply decides to get vaccinated. However, on Wednesday night during his Instagram Live, he didn’t really sound like a man that was ready or willing to do so anytime soon.

You’d have to assume that the Nets will be fine until – or if – Kyrie returns to the team. With a top 2 of Kevin Durant and James Harden, Brooklyn should still will plenty of games without their third star in the lineup. Still, the uncertainty won’t be a good cloud hovering over this team.

Time will tell how this story is going to twist and turn next. The regular season is less than a week away and the Nets will likely be starting the year without Kyrie in the lineup.