Memo Reveals That NBA Players Must be Vaccinated or Have Medical Clearance to Play in Canada
The NBA has informed teams that players will need to have either received a primary course of a COVID-19 vaccine or been given a medical clearance from getting one to be eligible to play games in Canada.
As reported by ESPN, this was clearly spelt out in a league memo obtained by ESPN.
According to the memo, should players be ineligible to play in games in Canada, teams must list them as, “Out – Health and Safety Protocols,” and they will lose their pay for any games missed due to not being vaccinated.
Those are the same rules that governed being able to play in Toronto since the middle of last season – rules that prohibited at least two players, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving and Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle, from participating in road games against the Raptors last season.
The same rules apply both to going to Canada to play in a game, as well as for entering the United States. Anyone playing for the Raptors, therefore, would have to be vaccinated in order to play in any game this season. Last season, the Raptors were fully vaccinated.
The NBA’s regular-season schedule is expected to be unveiled sometime later this month.
