The NBA informed teams that recently enacted laws in both New York City and San Francisco on vaccine requirements will be enforced, including for players and members of the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Golden State Warriors. , unless there is a medical or religious exemption from participating in them, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
Both cities recently passed laws requiring a certain level of COVID-19 vaccination in various settings.
In New York City, beginning September 13, those 12 and older will not be able to enter “certain covered venues” within the city, including the Barclays Center, home of the Nets, Madison Square Garden, home of the Knicks. , as well as any other indoor gym or fitness venue, without providing proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption for them not to.
In San Francisco, beginning October 13, all individuals 12 years of age and older must show proof of being fully vaccinated before entering any large-scale events, including NBA games at the Chase Center, as well as to indoor gyms or other fitness facilities, again unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption for those who do not.
These laws apply only to Knicks, Nets, and Warriors players, and not to members of visiting teams who come to play against those teams. The reason for this is that the laws in both New York City and San Francisco have exemptions for out-of-town teams that come to those cities to play. However, those exemptions do not exist for local teams in those cities.
In the memo, the NBA said that by Friday, all 30 NBA teams will have had to hand over the information to all players on their roster who are not fully vaccinated, and that they will need to inform the League office specifically what players. they are not yet fully vaccinated. It also states that, in the future, if a team signs a player who is not fully vaccinated, they must tell the player this information and inform the league that they have.
The League also stated that similar vaccination requirements could be considered in other NBA markets, and that some of them, unlike New York and San Francisco, may also consider vaccination requirements for visiting teams. He also said there could be other restrictions for unvaccinated players, noting that in Toronto, unvaccinated players are expected to be able to play in games, as long as they have a negative COVID-19 test, but that they will not. interact with people outside of their team’s travel party, nor will they be able to leave their hotel beyond going to practice or games.
The Athletic first reported the news of the memo’s existence.
ESPN previously reported that the league had informed teams in a memorandum last week that all personnel under the team’s control who work within 15 feet of players or umpires during games will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to the next season.
The directive specifically included coaches, members of the front office and coaches, but fell short of requiring all players to be vaccinated.
Player vaccination throughout the League is subject to negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association.
The NBA set an Oct. 1 deadline for team personnel to be fully vaccinated and left open the possibility that a booster shot would be required at a later date. The mandate applies to all personnel who will work near the pitch, including announcers, scoreboard operators, photographers, and security personnel. All internal operations are also required, including locker room assistants, medical staff, equipment managers, and food and beverage handlers and suppliers.
.