Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving could lose more than NZ$547,000 for every game missed due to being unvaccinated.
ESPN reports the NBA and National Basketball Players Association have agreed on a reduction in pay of 1/91.6 of a player's salary for missing games, due to vaccine regulations in New York City and San Francisco.
Irving remains steadfast that he will not get the vaccination against the COVID-19 virus. If he continues to hold out, he would miss the Nets' 41 home games, as long as the regulations remain in place.
That would equate to more than US$15 million (NZ$22.26m) lost for Irving, who's under contract for US$35 million (NZ$50.12m) in 2021/22.
Irving would need proof of at least one vaccine shot to practice or play in his own arena, the Barclays Center. In San Francisco, players need to be fully vaccinated, but high-profile holdout Andrew Wiggins of Golden State Warriors has got his vaccine.
The Nets will hold their first practice in Brooklyn on Tuesday, the first time Irving would be subjected to the regulations. The team opened their training camp in San Diego last week.
The Nets' home-opener is October 25 (NZ time) against Charlotte.
Unvaccinated players on visiting teams may play in New York City and San Francisco, as long as they return negative tests.
Reuters
