Shaquille O'Neals Says The Brooklyn Nets Should Trade Kyrie Irving Over Vaccine Stance

Shaquille O'Neal is done with Kyrie Irving's antics, urging the Brooklyn Nets to trade him.

With the new NBA season not far away, there has been a push to get all the player vaccinated in order to comply with strict coronavirus regulations which differ from state-to-state.

Kyrie Irving. Credit PA

But while most have got the jab, others are refusing to follow suit - Irving being one of them.

It's understood the two-time NBA champion is still unvaccinated and even had to partake in the Nets' media day via Zoom because he wasn't allowed to be present.

Under New York state rules, players who choose to remain unvaccinated cannot play in home games, which ultimately means Kyrie could miss over half the season.

Now one of the basketball's biggest names has called for Brooklyn to bite the bullet and get rid of him before the campaign begins.

"I would go upstairs and say, 'Get him up out of here,'" Shaq told CBS Radio this week.

"We can win with a two-punch and a great shooter and some rebounders like we got. Get his ass up out of here."

"Of course, if I played with him, I'd be in charge all the way, all day. Whoever owns the Brooklyn Nets, get him up out of here."

But Shaq was far from done with slamming Irving.

Speaking on his own 'Big Podcast With Shaq', the NBA great doubled down on his claims by urging Irving to think about others rather than himself.

"I try not to belittle another man's opinion, but let me tell you what I think," Shaq said.

"In this game of ours, sometimes you have to think about others instead of yourself. Now, Kyrie has his own views and his opinions. I'm not going to knock that.

"But he does have an obligation because he took that $200 million. Once you sign up for this life there is no privacy. And you have to accept it."

Topics: Kyrie Irving, Basketball, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, vaccine, Australia, vaccination, Covid-19

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry