The strict vaccination laws in New York City could potentially be stricter, and that is bad news for the unvaccinated NBA players right now.
Currently, New York laws mandate that employees in New York must be vaccinated to enter their premises. That includes the NBA teams in the Big Apple, the Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. However, if this new bill from NY senator Brad Hoylman passes, other NBA stars from other teams will not be able to play in the Big Apple (via Gothamist).
“This week, Hoylman, who represents parts of Manhattan, introduced a bill that would close the loophole and require all performers, athletes and their support staff to be vaccinated regardless of where they live.”
However, as with most other bills, this would take a while before it becomes a law that will affect NBA players.
“However, any action on the bill is likely far off—Hoylman is still seeking a co-sponsor in the Assembly, and the state legislature is unlikely to return to Albany before the next session begins in January.”
This is a huge blow for the unvaccinated stars in the NBA, both in the short and long-term. If the bill passes, either on January or earlier, players who refuse the vaccine will not be allowed to play a minimum of four games to a maximum of eight in the regular season. The long-term effect, though, is the precedent it could set. If other states implement similar restrictions like this, NBA players could miss more time with their team.
Several NBA stars have been under scrutiny recently for their stance against the COVID-19 vaccine. Kyrie Irving is the most famous example, having been strictly against vaccination due to a perplexing reason. Other players that have spoken out against it are Bradley Beal, Trey Burke and Jonathan Isaac. Hopefully, this new rule will be the final reason to convince them to get the shot.
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