The league continues to take steps in the right direction amid the pandemic as several members of the Los Angeles Lakers organization are set to receive COVID-19 vaccination this week, per ESPN‘s Ramona Shelbourne and Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Purple and Gold will follow the New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, and the Portland Trail Blazers as the first few organizations to acknowledge that they will be receiving the vaccine.

Specific players or members of the organization who will be vaccinated weren't named by the Lakers due to HIPAA regulations. In addition, the league isn't strictly requiring players and staffers to receive the vaccine but is still highly encouraging them to do so.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel also spoke on the matter but was vague in his answer regarding the vaccination of his team, “there's been some talk about trying to get it, but we're not there yet.”

Article Continues Below
More Los Angeles Lakers News
LeBron James, Stephen (Steph) Curry, who may be heading to an ESPN NBA broadcasting booth after they retire, after Lakers-Warriors game on December 25, 2024.
ESPN has ‘hopeful’ LeBron James, Stephen Curry wishAndrew Korpan ·
Chris Paul rescinded NBA trade Lakers Hornets
NBA news: Chris Paul shuts down Hornets-Lakers trade conspiracyJulian Ojeda ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the fourth quarter.
Luka Doncic’s offseason body transformation has Lakers fans hypedJedd Pagaduan ·
Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal stands next to Kobe Bryant with GOAT signs in background
Shaquille O’Neal has no regrets over treatment of Kobe BryantRandall Barnes ·
image thumbnail
NBA rumors: Lakers’ Austin Reaves trade strategy as 2 center targets emergeErik Slater ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
Lakers’ LeBron James dumps fuel on Brian Windhorst feud with calloutMalik Brown ·

Getting everyone to take vaccine shots would eventually serve as a difference-maker for the league and its players, especially now that teams are playing in both home and away games. The members of the squads are also interacting with countless people as they regularly travel from one city to another all throughout the season.

With the number of COVID-19 cases still rising as of the moment, it will definitely be better for everyone in the league to get vaccinated if they are deemed eligible to do so. This will not only protect everyone's safety but will also ensure that no major outbreaks will halt the league's action for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.

Hopefully, the production of COVID-19 vaccines would serve as the turning point that would help bring everything back to normal in the NBA in the near future.