NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy is the latest person to add fuel to the flame to the whole issue behind Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving's COVID-19 vaccine stand. Irving has been under fire these past few weeks due to his firm stand on opting out of getting vaccinated ahead of the 2021-2022 NBA season.

According to Irving, he's done his own research and claims that he has all the right to deny the COVID-19 vaccine despite numerous repercussions. This, per the former head coach, is quite hard to understand. Covering the preseason game between the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets, JVG went off and challenged Irving's beliefs:

“You know what drives me crazy? ‘I'm doing my own research.'” Van Gundy stated. “What does that look like – you doing your own research? Are you doing studies yourself? Are you in the lab on a nightly basis? What are you doing? I don't understand what that means, ‘I'm doing my own research',”

Amid all the backlash about his personal decision, which he's totally entitled to, the former NBA champion seems to be unfazed. Irving has been MIA for the past few weeks and teammates like Kevin Durant and James Harden are hoping that the team can resolve the issue.

Both former MVPs from the Nets don't see Irving not being a part of the team, but if Kyrie decides to not get vaccinated, Brooklyn might not have a choice and miss out on their starting point guard for a huge chunk of the season due to certain local mandates all around the league.

“We've got really smart people, a lot smarter than anybody in the NBA, who's already done the research,” Van Gundy added. “And, I'll say this. They're [the Nets] good enough even if Kyrie Irving doesn't play. They can win it.”