“What would you do if you felt uncomfortable going into the season when you were promised that you would have exemptions or that you didn’t have to be forced to get the vaccine? This wasn’t an issue before the season started,” Irving said. “This wasn’t something I foresaw coming, or I prepared for it, or I had a chance to strategize on what was best for me and my family. I came into the season thinking I was just going to be able to play ball. … Why are you putting it on me?”…

“I chose to be unvaccinated,” Irving said. “That was my choice. I would ask y’all to just respect that choice. I’m going to stay in shape, be ready to play and be ready to rock out with my teammates and be part of this whole thing. This is not a political thing here. It’s not about the NBA or any organization. It’s about my life and what I’m choosing to do.”…

“We’ve got to stand together, not divided,” he said. “Now is not the time to be demonizing everybody for making a choice, for what’s best for their lives. … I’m not an advocate for either side. I’m doing what’s best for me. I know the consequences here. If it means that I’m judged and demonized for that, that’s what it is.”…

“It’s not about the money, baby,” Irving said. “It’s not always about the money. It’s about choosing what’s best for you. You think I really want to lose money? You think I really want to give up on my dream of going after a championship? You think I really want to just give up my job? … Hopefully all this can be figured out in the future and I’m able to play the game that I love and go after a championship with my team and be with my teammates.”