Much like how the NFL and MLB handled their ongoing seasons, the NBA is making players who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 live and work under restrictions similar to those used during the 2020-21 campaign, before the safe vaccines were available to all personnel. 

One twist, however, is that unvaccinated NBA players employed by the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors currently can’t participate in home games because both New York City and San Francisco require such athletes to show proof of vaccination or of an approved medical or religious exemption to enter arenas. Players who miss games only because they’re not vaccinated could be made to forfeit their pay for those contests. 

Those health orders thus far don’t apply to out-of-market players who travel to New York and San Francisco, but it nevertheless seems that the bulk of the league has heard the message about receiving one of the vaccines loud and clear. 

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday the NBA has now reached a 95% coronavirus vaccination threshold among players.