By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Basketball great and Charlotte Hornets owner, Michael Jordan commented on NBA players hesitating or refusing to get vaccinated and clearly sided with the league’s coronavirus health and safety protocols.
“Not at all. Not at all,” MJ replied on being concerned about the protocols during an interview with Craig Melvin on NBC’s “TODAY”, “I am total in unison with the league. And I think everybody has been speaking about vaccinations. And I’m a firm believer in science and I’m going to stick with that, and hopefully, everybody abides by whatever the league sets the rules. I think once everybody buys in, we’re going the be fine.”
The NBA updated the health and safety protocols for the 2021-22 season in September noting major restrictions for players who are not fully vaccinated. Among the rules for unvaccinated players are them not being able to eat in the same room as vaccinated players and must having lockers as far away from vaccinated players as possible. The unvaccinated players must also stay masked and at least six feet away from all other attendees in any team meeting.
However, additional issues stem from health and safety regulations implemented by local governments, as thoroughly documented in the case of New York City restrictions set to prevent Kyrie Irving from playing for the Brooklyn Nets at home.
Jordan, 58, stressed the importance of players and staff staying healthy through the 2021-22 season. Active players, even if they decided to receive the vaccine to protect themselves from the coronavirus, have declined to publicly recommend the vaccine to fellow players stirring even more controversy on the matter.
In February, he donated $10M to open two Michael Jordan Family Clinics in his home country in North Carolina. Nearly 1,000 COVID-19 vaccinations had already been distributed by two existing Jordan clinics.