One of the biggest topics of discussion over the last few weeks for NBA fans has been players and their skepticism to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Players like Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins, and Jonathan Isaac have been noted for being hesitant to take the vaccine because of concerns they have.
One of the players who had hesitations about taking the COVID-19 vaccine early on was LeBron James. During the 2020-21 NBA season, when the vaccine rollout had just begun in the United States, James had noted that he wanted to keep his vaccination status private, something that was criticized by fans and analysts alike.
But during the Lakers’ media day last week, LeBron did confirm that he had received the vaccine, mentioning that he had done his research, and felt that it was the best move for him and his family’s safety.
Despite James taking the vaccine, people were left unsatisfied with his response. As the biggest player in the NBA, many fans expected James to come out and advocate for players to get vaccinated, rather than encouraging them to do their own research and resist getting the shot.
One player who was not happy with James’ comments was Celtics’ big man Enes Kanter. Kanter, who has had issues with James in the past, came out and said that James should be setting an example for the rest of the league, rather than allowing vaccine hesitancy to grow among players who haven’t gotten the shot.
“You know, when I heard it, I was very disappointed and it is ridiculous. Obviously LeBron James, he’s one of the faces of the league. And he should be the first one to go out there and say, listen, everyone, I got the vaссine and I’m encouraging everyone, my community, everyone, basketball fans, non-basketball fans, all sport fans to go out, get this vaссine so we could save other lives. So when I heard that, I just can’t believe it. But I hope he could educate himself about this vaссination and encourage other people around him.”
The vaccination issue is a big concern for the NBA, as there are players who run the risk of not being able to play in certain cities if they choose not to get the shot. Some players have yielded and gotten the vaccine despite their concerns, such as Andrew Wiggins.
But there are still players like Kyrie Irving who have held out. The Nets’ franchise is hoping that Kevin Durant can convince Kyrie as his close friend to take the shot. But the larger issue of vaccination still persists within the NBA.
