Though roughly 90% of NBA players are vaccinated as training camp approaches Tuesday, tension exists between those around the league mandated to be vaccinated and the nearly 40 unvaccinated players, league sources told ESPN.
In some instances, vaccinated staffers say they're concerned about the health risks of being exposed to unvaccinated players. In others, staffers say they're upset that players aren't facing the same vaccine mandates as most team staff and referees. In others, there's animosity toward the league itself for not imposing such a mandate.
"Everyone who is vaccinated should be pissed at those who aren't," a veteran assistant coach said, adding, "Not requiring NBA players to be vaccinated is horse s--t."
The league has pushed for mandatory vaccinations for players, league sources said, but,
as ESPN first reported, the NBPA has refused to budge on a vaccine mandate for players, referring to it as a "non-starter" in negotiations between the league and the player's union.
One vaccinated Western Conference strength and conditioning coach said they're concerned about a potential breakthrough case that could affect family members.
"For me, it's a problem because my parents are very sick, and I'm in close contact with these guys and I would hate to bring this home and my parents pass away from it," the coach told ESPN.
Said the strength and conditioning coach of the NBA, "They need to hold the players to the same standards they hold us. This is a disease that doesn't differentiate between a player and a staff member."