While the NBA announces every last player and team that receive COVID-19 vaccinations, not all players are on board, according to Chris Sheridan of Basketball News.
No less than Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was suspiciously noncommittal, telling reporters he intended to keep the possibility of being vaccinated “private.”
Sheridan reported that others are outright hesitant, with the league “encountering a variety of problems” in its attempts to make sure all players are vaccinated.
“The teams having the most difficulty getting vaccinations include the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers,” Sheridan wrote.
“Numerous league sources described the situation as an ongoing, daily dilemma in which they are fighting against misinformation, historical truths about government abuse of vaccination programs in black communities and logistical complications based upon different vaccination qualification rules in different states.”
Per Sheridan, the NBA and players’ union have stated that no one will need to be vaccinated against their will. But it’s clear the goal is for everyone to receive the vaccine.
“A league source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said teams have been instructed by the league office that they cannot jump the line to get members of their organizations vaccinated, and nobody will be forced to be vaccinated against their will,” Sheridan wrote. “But at the same time, extraordinary efforts are being made to educate players and team personnel about the merits of vaccination.”
Players are citing “systematic distrust” in the government as the primary reason for avoiding the vaccine, Sheridan added.
This follows a February report from The Wall Street Journal, which indicated NBA players have expressed concerns about the vaccine.
