The COVID vaccine has been the talk of the NBA for the last few days since the firestorm that was NBA media day.
The vaccine has been the story of the season so far from the players’ refusal to issue a vaccine mandate for NBAPA members to players like Andrew Wiggins, Kyrie Irving and more refusing to take it.
Players like Wiggins and Irving, who play in New York and San Francisco, won’t be able to actually play in home games for their team without taking the vaccine because of state regulations.
So, naturally, one would think the resolution to this would be for them to get the shot. It’s easy. It’s short. It’s simple. You don’t even remember it after you get it. From a sports perspective, it won’t cost their team wins and it won’t cost them any money. Most importantly, it makes things safer for the people around them.
Instead, players like Wiggins are holding on to their convictions and refuse to take it.
Many of the NBA players around the league who have actually taken the vaccine support them in their refusal. One player of note, and a teammate of Wiggins’, was Draymond Green.
Green is vaccinated. He’ll be able to play for the Warriors in their home arena this season. But he says he supports Wiggins’ decision and his skepticism.
Draymond Green said he won't pressure Andrew Wiggins to get the vaccine, even if that means he will miss home games. He had a ton of thoughts on the subject.
Here's Part 1 pic.twitter.com/oogj6TILUv
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 30, 2021
“I think there’s something to be said for people’s concern about something that’s being pressed so hard. Like, why are you pressing this so hard? Like, so much. You’re just pressing and pressing and pressing. I think you have to honor people’s feelings and their beliefs. And I think that’s been lost when it comes to vaccinated and non-vaccinated.”
The face of the NBA agreed with his question. LeBron James said he couldn’t have said it any better himself.
Couldn’t have said it any better @Money23Green! https://t.co/2PQZ0IaWvg
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 1, 2021
The question of “why are you pressing this so hard?” seems to be the ever-present theme for folks skeptical of the vaccine. But the answers are right there in front of them and they’re too deep into their own research to realize it.
Why is it being pressed so hard? Maybe the answer is because 700,000 people have lost their lives to COVID in this country. Maybe it’s because people who are not fully vaccinated are 57 times more likely to die from COVID-19, per new information from the White House. Maybe it’s because the vaccines actually work and are actually keeping people safe.
It’d be one thing if Irving, Wiggins and other athletes around the country were isolated and unvaccinated. But they’ll literally be around millions of people this season. They’re literally putting people’s lives in danger by not being vaccinated. That’s not hard to see.
Look, we don’t want to make it seem as if the NBA has a vaccination problem. It doesn’t. Ninety-five percent of the league is reportedly vaccinated. What the problem here, with Green’s comments and comments like them, is that they’re spreading skepticism with information that has no basis. It’s untrue.
Sure, the right for people to make personal choices is very important. But that’s not what this is. This is a matter of public health. As a matter of public health, it is imperative that everyone works together to make things as safe as possible for each other — not just ourselves. Part of that work is making sure everyone is vaccinated.
If we don’t, things will just continue to balloon. That 700,000 will grow to 1 million and it won’t stop there.
Absolutely no one wants to see that. So, please, everyone, get vaccinated.
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