NBA players union encourages players to get booster shots amid COVID-19 outbreak

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is encouraging players to get COVID-19 booster shots as teams experience outbreaks of the virus.

In a statement, the union announced that 97 percent of NBA players are fully vaccinated against the virus and that 65 percent of eligible players have received their booster shots. 

The NBPA noted that it is committed “to promoting the health and safety of all players in this very challenging environment.” 

“Today, we committed to facilitating the delivery of booster shots to all eligible players and the NBPA is strongly encouraging all of our players to receive a booster as soon as possible,” the union said in a statement to The Hill. 

The NBPA issues a statement on booster shots and players in the NBA: pic.twitter.com/c5337GW36L

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2021

The NBPA reached an agreement with the league on Sunday to allow additional replacement players for teams dealing with players entering the league’s health and safety protocols, according to ESPN. 

According to the league memo, teams will be allowed to sign a replacement player for each positive  COVID-19 case that crops up across its roster. 

The league memo also stated that any time a team signs a replacement player, that player must be available at the start of the team’s first game after the allowance to sign a replacement player is granted by the league, ESPN reported. 

The league recently postponed five games this week due to COVID-19 outbreaks, including the Brooklyn Nets’ Tuesday contest against the Washington Wizards. 

Dozen of star players have entered the league’s health and safety protocol, including Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, ESPN noted.