The Lakers held their Media Day on Tuesday, and LeBron James was asked about his vaccination status. It’s the question that inquiring minds want to know about every NBA player.
Bron, who has compiled a championship-caliber team of young stars, veterans, and former All-Stars, was asked the burning question. His answer might surprise some people.
Reporter: Have you been vaccinated and do you feel compelled to send a message to the rest of the country about the importance of vaccinations?
LeBron James: “I think when it comes down to … me I can speak about myself. I think everyone has their own choice to do what they feel is right to do for themselves and their family and things of that nature. I know that I was very skeptical about it all but after doing my research and things of that nature I felt that it was best suited not only for me but for my family and my friends and that’s why I decided to do it.
LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, and other NBA stars explained why they got the Covid vaccine https://t.co/nOdUeknsTs
— SB Nation NBA 🏀 (@SBNationNBA) September 28, 2021
But as far …you guys should know me if there’s anything I talk about. I don’t talk about other people and what they should do. I speak for me and my family.”
Sports host Ramona Shelburne responded to LeBron’s statement on Tuesday’s episode of “The Jump.” She praised LeBron for deciding to get vaccinated after some early hesitation.
“Speaking about his own vaccine hesitancy does more good for others who are hesitant than anything,” said Shelburne, who admitted she got vaccinated as soon as she could. “When you hear someone speak about their own experience and how they worked through it and why they did it themselves, I think that does more good than someone who was not hesitant at all.”
Co-host Kendrick Perkins says he had initial reservations as well.
“I was a guy that was really skeptical,” Perk said. “My wife got the vaccine six or seven months before me and I did my research, but what took me over the top personally is when I did the research and saw that people in the military space, who stand on the front lines were getting vaccinated. … I felt that this is a safe way to go about it.”
Perk says he doesn’t believe that the government would put the military who are protecting our borders “so we can sleep at night” in harm’s way.
“Once I saw that they did it,” Perk said, “then I was OK with it”.
The battle between vaccinated and unvaccinated is heating up in the NBA. Kyrie Irving didn’t attend Brooklyn Nets Media Day at the Barclays in New York on Monday because city-mandated COVID-19 laws forbid unvaccinated people ages 12 and older from attending large gatherings.
There’s a possibility that he won’t be able to play home games if he remains unvaccinated. The entire situation is getting messy, and unvaccinated players are subject to layers of laws and restrictions implemented by the NBA, state, and local jurisdictions.
Anti-Vaxxer Athletes
Andrew Wiggins’ attempt to get a religious exemption from taking the vaccine was denied by the NBA. He showed up at Golden State Media Day.
“I’ll say something when I’m ready,” Wiggins told media in attendance. “The only thing the media has done is make it bigger than it has to be. So I’ll say my side of everything when I’m ready.”
When reminded by one reporter that he stands to lose a lot of money, Wiggins replied, “That’s my problem, not yours.”
Andrew Wiggins to reporter who says he is going to lose a lot of money:
“And it’s my problem not yours” https://t.co/mgG3WpzzEx
— , (@dubs4o8) September 27, 2021
Washington Wizards superstar Bradley Beal spoke at Wizards Media Day on Tuesday and the unvaccinated player said:
“I would like an explanation on why vaccinated people are still getting COVID. … It’s funny that it reduces your chances of going to the hospital but doesn’t eliminate, anybody, from getting COVID.”
NBA spokesman Mike Bass gave a statement as to why the league hasn’t mandated vaccinations for all players and defers to local laws.
The NBA explains why the league can’t mandate vaccinations for its players. (Photo Screenshot/TheJump)
LeBron Leads Again
King James will be present this season and won’t be a part of any anti-vaccination stances. Bron doesn’t have to tell people to “go get vaccinated.”
Admitting that vaccinations for himself and his family AND friends is the best decision, speaks volumes as to where he stands on the issue.
That’s all we needed to hear. If anyone is looking for LeBron to take a firm stance on vaccinations he did on Media Day. In his own way.
