Kyrie Irving breaks the silence on his COVID-19 controversy

During the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the 2021-22 season, there were different mandates put in place in order to keep NBA players safe. Most of the league was vaccinated, but they still had rules in place for those who chose not to get the vaccine.

Unvaccinated players were prohibited from eating in the same room as teammates and other staff, and their lockers were strategically placed far away from vaccinated teammates. They also had to wear a mask and stay at least six feet away from everyone else during team meetings.

These mandates went as far as to say that unvaccinated players must be "required to remain at their residence when in their home market," and stay on the property of the hotel when on the road. Over 90 percent of the league was reportedly vaccinated at this time according to the NBA, and these mandates made things hard for those who weren't vaccinated.

The most well-known player who was unvaccinated was Kyrie Irving, and the mandates for him in New York were tougher than in any other state as he played for the Brooklyn Nets. Irving was not allowed to play in home games for most of the 2021-22 season at the Barclays Center due to his refusal to get vaccinated and the mandates that were in place in New York City, and not being able to play frustrated him as he wanted to be on the floor with his Nets teammates.

Kyrie Irving shares his perspective on COVID-19 controversy

Irving's decision to not receive the vaccine was controversial at the time, and he recently spoke out about this situation when a viral video of Jay Varma, the former NYC public health adviser, joked about Irving not being able to play as he was ultimately part of the decision "that blocked (him) from playing basketball."

It then showed a clip of Irving talking about how he didn't expect a mandate that prevented him from playing at all, and he had to live with it.

Irving responded to this video on X, and it shows exactly about how he feels about it all.

"The truth is always revealed in the light," Irving stated.

He didn't expect that he wouldn't be able to play at all without receiving the vaccine, and Varma's tone when discussing that decision was what kept Irving sparked mixed reactions.

Irving is way past the entire COVID controversy that kept him from playing in so many home games back in 2021 and 2022, and he is fully focused on winning in Dallas. He and Luka Doncic have turned into one of the best duos in the NBA, and all of Irving's visible focus has shifted to on-court excellence.

There have been no off-court issues since he came to the Mavericks, and him playing in Dallas seems to be a match made in heaven for both sides. The Mavs allow Irving to be himself in all ways, and their partnership has brought the best out of him. He visibly enjoys playing for the Mavericks, and his leadership is one of the biggest reasons that Dallas was able to make such a deep playoff run last season.

There has not been any controversy surrounding Irving for some time now, and this comment from him should help shut the door on that chapter of his career.