NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says ‘most players’ will receive COVID-19 vaccine, but are not required to do so

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said on Saturday that the NBA will not force anyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine, but he believes “most players” will ultimately choose to do so.

“We are seeing this now, both in the actual number of people vaccinated in the United States and in opinion polls, that more and more people are willing to be vaccinated,” Silver said at his conference. Atlanta All-Star Weekend Virtual Press Release. “I think, as for those who have hesitated, as tens of millions of people in the United States have received the vaccine, that people see, at least in the short term, what the impact is, and they know what the impact is. point these vaccines are incredibly effective.

“I feel like most players will ultimately choose to get the shot. They have to make personal decisions at the end of the day – and I take that very seriously, and I take concerns very seriously. serious. But my sense is the most [players] ultimately decide that it is in their best interests to get the vaccine. “

Part of Silver’s logic as to why players will be interested in getting the shot is that it will make their life easier. Currently, under NBA health and safety protocols, not only do players have to be tested up to three times a day, they are also subject to quarantine periods even if they do not test positive for them. – even if they have been “in close contact” with someone who has.

That’s what’s happened with All-Star Kevin Durant, for example, twice this season – including last month when he was initially ruled out of a game against the Toronto Raptors, to be cleared. to play in the middle of the first quarter and then be out. again halfway through the third, after an inconclusive test by close contact became a positive test.

In this scenario, if Durant had received a vaccine, he would not have to quarantine himself at all.

“In addition to the personal health benefits, the family health benefits, the economic benefits of getting the vaccine, because of the protocols we have in place, they are incredibly heavy on our players and our teams,” he said. said Silver. “But, for example, the CDC has already announced that if you have been vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine yourself as a close contact. As you know, many of our players have had to be absent no not because they had tested positive, but because they were required to self-quarantine due to close contact.

“So in addition, at the moment, as we operate under the so-called workplace quarantine protocol, where players largely only go between their homes and the arena, once vaccinated, they will be able to do more in their communities. And that’s something we’ve already started talking about in the Players’ Association. There will therefore be real advantages and advantages to being vaccinated for players. “

The NBA has had to postpone 31 games so far due to league health and safety protocols, with several teams – including the Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs – having to miss several games due to lack of players available to play in a game.

Silver, however, said it was “realistic” to end the playoffs without mandatory vaccinations for players because he believes the league’s protocols have largely worked.

“I think it’s realistic, although we didn’t need any vaccinations because, of course, no one – none of the players – has been vaccinated now, and we only had to postpone a percentage relatively low of matches. “Silver said.” We know that for the most part a testing protocol, associated with wearing the mask and all of the other precautions we take, largely works.

“The NCAA tournament is going to be played this year, and again, without vaccinations for their players. For me, we will make further progress if the players get vaccinated, but that certainly doesn’t require all of them to be vaccinated. . “

However, Silver did not respond to what would happen if there was a situation where an NBA team had to be shut down during the playoffs because of the virus – as the league has had to do repeatedly until. now. Once the NCAA tournament begins, if a team has an outbreak that prevents them from playing, their opponent would forfeit the next round.