Photo: twitter
Charles Barkleyis making his feelings known when it comes to being vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Basketball Hall of Famer, 58, spoke onInside the NBAon Tuesday and commented on the controversy surrounding Brooklyn Nets playerKyrie Irving’s refusal to get vaccinated.
“You don’t get the vaccine for yourself,” Barkley stated. “You get it for other people.”
“I got vaccinated, I can’t wait to get the booster,” he added, before continuing to say more on the importance of inoculation.
“You get vaccinated for your family first,” the former All-Star said. “You get vaccinated for your teammates second.”
Barkley then addressed Irving and his team specifically, saying, “That’s what bugged me about this whole thing, I think everybody should get vaccinated.”
RELATED VIDEO: Charles Barkley Reveals He Hasn’t ‘Touched a Basketball’ Since the Day He Retired
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
“I really am proud of the Nets for putting their foot down, for saying, ‘No, we’re not going to deal with this half on, half off [arrangement],’ " he continued. (New York City’svaccine mandateprevents anyone over 12 years old from entering “covered premises” in the city, which includes the Nets' arena in Brooklyn, without proof of vaccination.)
“The only thing that bugs me, he’s still going to make $17 million sitting at home,” Barkley added.
“Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently, the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team,” Nets GM Sean Marks said at the time.
This week, the Nets began their season Tuesday night sans Irving, losing their first game to defending champions the Milwaukee Bucks.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
