Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving's stance on the COVID vaccine is well-documented. He is one of the most vocal critics of the jab in the sports world, openly questioning its legitimacy. That stance has made him one of the most polarizing players not only in NBA, but amongst popular sports figures.

However, it still came as a surprise when the Nets star was name-dropped by a rapper in his latest album. Kendrick Lamar's comeback album “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” (which was well-received by LeBron James) featured a verse calling out Kyrie Irving, where he said:

“Seen a Christian say the vaccine mark of the beast.
Then he caught COVID and prayed to Pfizer for relief.
Then I caught COVID and started to question Kyrie.”

Of course, Irving got word of this, and had his own response to Lamar seemingly dissing him. The Nets star, on one of his Twitch streams, talked about the name-drop, saying that:

“I'm not mad. I'm not indifferent. I'm just grateful. How about that?”

Irving would also praise Kendrick Lamar's latest album on Instagram, saying that:

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Irving's vaccine controversy has been the subject of debate throughout the season. Many fans argue that the star's refusal to get the jab contributed to the Nets' downfall in the regular season. However, there are also fans that commended Irving for sticking to his beliefs and standing his ground.

With COVID mandates easing up in the US, the Nets won't have to worry about Irving's vaccination status for now. However, this 2021-22 season will always be a what-if in the minds of many fans.