James confirms he got COVID-19 vaccine, but says it’s a personal choice
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James confirmed Tuesday that he has received the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I think everyone has their own choice to do what they feel is right for themselves and their family, and things of that nature,” James said at the Lakers’ training camp. “I know that I was very (skeptical) about it all, but after doing my research … I felt like it was best suited for not only me but for my family and for my friends, and that’s why I decided to do it.”
Last week, Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, told reporters he expected the full roster to be deemed fully vaccinated by their first game on Oct. 19.
Forward Anthony Davis said Tuesday that “if he’s not mistaken,” every player on the team is already vaccinated.
“I personally did it for my family,” Davis said. “I just wanted to make sure I would always protect my family … and I feel like everyone on the team feels the same way.”
James’s explanation comes amid controversy on the subject around the league. Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal, for one, said he isn’t vaccinated for “personal reasons.”
“Every player, every person in this world is going to make their own decision for themselves,” Beal told reporters at the Wizards’ camp. “I would like an explanation to, you know, people with vaccines. Why are they still getting COVID? If that’s something that we are supposed to highly be protected from, like it’s funny that it only reduces your chances of going to the hospital.
“It doesn’t eliminate anybody from getting COVID, right? So is everybody in here vaxxed, I would assume? Right. So you all can still get COVID, right? … At the end of the day, (I’ll) talk it over with my family and we make a group decision that we feel is best for us, just like the rest of the world.”
On Tuesday night, the NBA released tentative health and safety protocols detailing how unvaccinated players will be tested far more often than their vaccinated colleagues and face a slew of other restrictions.
Among the rules for unvaccinated players: They will not be able to eat in the same room with vaccinated teammates or staff, must have lockers as far away from vaccinated players as possible, and must stay masked and at least six feet away in any team meeting.
Further, unvaccinated players will be “required to remain at their residence when in their home market,” teams were told in the draft of the rules, obtained by The Associated Press.
They will also need to stay on team hotel properties when on the road. In both cases, there are limited permissible exceptions — such as going to buy groceries and taking children to school. And unvaccinated players also will not be permitted to visit “higher-risk settings,” such as restaurants and bars.