Stephen A. Smith apologizes for criticizing NBA star Kyrie Irving's refusal to get vaccinated

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith apologized for criticizing NBA star Kyle Irving's choice not to get vaccinated, calling him "selfish." 

"Hindsight-wise, it didn’t make him stubborn or selfish. It made him brave," Smith said on SirusXM this week. 

Irving was forbidden to play home games during the height of the COVID pandemic due to his decision not to receive mandatory vaccinations. This cost him $11,400,000 in game checks during the 2021-2022 NBA season and a $100,000,000 extension with the Brooklyn Nets. 

“Kyrie Irving stood out in my mind because of the heat that he was taking... He refused the vaccine. New York City's mandate made him ineligible for home games, and he linked his stance to people losing jobs over vaccine mandates," Smith said.