NBA spokesman Mike BassĀ announced Wednesday that āany player who elects not to comply with local vaccination mandates will not be paid for games that he misses.ā
New York and San Francisco have local COVID-19 vaccine requirements for Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors players to participate in home games. The Knicks are 100% vaccinated, but Nets star Kyrie Irving and Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins are two high-profile players who are unvaccinated. They would be giving up a ton of money if they don't comply and stay unvaccinated:
Financial penalties (per game amount) are still being discussed but it will be substantial. https://t.co/T4BdbzpzOY
ā Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) September 29, 2021
Irving didn't attend Nets Media Day because of the rules, but he did speak on a video call and asked for privacy on the matter. The Nets star was a key subject of an explosive Rolling Stone piece on NBA anti-vaxxers, but a recent report from Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill suggested Irving will indeed wind up getting the vaccine, thanks in part to Kevin Durant. This announcement from the NBA could push him in that direction as well.
Wiggins was a bit more defiant during his Media Day session, which prompted some frustration from star teammate Stephen Curry. Wiggins has openly expressed his opposition to the vaccine, but now he has to make a big decision as well.
It is worth wondering why these vaccine requirements are only for home players who aren't vaccinated and not for visiting players who aren't vaxxed.Ā Still, the bottom line is, based on the current rules, Irving and Wiggins can't play in home games and will lose a lot of money. One would think that would be enough for them to get the jab, but perhaps one or both of them will wind up taking a stand based on their beliefs.
Stay tuned as this COVID vaccine saga continues in the NBA.
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