We don't have to diminish Kyrie's on-the-court accomplishments or wish him ill to be clear-eyed about his increasing number of foolish comments and implausible explanations.
He said the earth is flat and that there are no real pictures of earth. He claims those comments were designed to promote conversation and make a point about social media (exactly what point he thought he was making is unclear) but he later told the NYT,
It seems clear to me that Kyrie thought the earth might be flat. Perhaps he still does.
He says he comments about masks were metaphorical but they were made at a time when physical masks are a major issue. Also, SI reports:
Now he's following and liking vaccine conspiracies. I suspect Kyrie will have another explanation, but isn't the most likely explanation that Kyrie is susceptible to conspiracy theories?
Conspiratorial and anti-science beliefs often cluster together. If you believe experts are lying to you about the shape of the earth, how big a stretch is it to believe they are lying to you about the vaccine or masks? Remember the Wisconsin Pharmacist that destroyed 500 doses of the COVID vaccine in February?
Also a flat earther.
Kyrie's basketball is beautiful and much of his off-the-court work is laudable. But his understanding of science is indefensible and his propensity to get drawn in by wild conspiracies is scary.