Kyrie Irving reveals he asked Nets for release following COVID-19 vaccine suspension

Kyrie Irving's time with the Brooklyn Nets was overshadowed by significant off-court incidents. He was suspended at the start of the 2021-22 season for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The following season, he faced another suspension after tweeting a link to a film criticized for antisemitic content and refusing to denounce antisemitism. These controversies led the Nets to not offer Irving a contract extension and ultimately resulted in him requesting a trade, which sent him to the Dallas Mavericks.

Irving recently revealed that he asked the Nets to release him following his first suspension in 2021. He stated that despite people in his business circle being "pro-vaccine," he wanted to be left out of the situation and requested his release, acknowledging that the financial implications and his star status meant the Nets "weren't just going to let [him] rock out." Although not traded until the 2023 deadline, his request was made much earlier.

Despite the controversies, Irving performed at an elite level when available for the Nets. He averaged 27.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, with shooting percentages of 48.9% from the field, 39.6% from three-point range, and 90.9% from the free-throw line. He achieved a 50-40-90 season in 2020-21, becoming the ninth player and only the fourth averaging at least 25.0 ppg to do so. That season, the Nets appeared as title contenders, but injuries to Irving and James Harden derailed their playoff run.