Knicks, Nets, NBA Warriors prepare for Covid-19 vaccine policies set by hometowns

The NBA had warned the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors that vaccination protocols established by their hometowns would ban their players from participating in home games in New York City and San Francisco if they were not vaccinated. or exempted. City vaccination policies do not apply to away team players competing in their arenas.

The Knicks have fully vaccinated all of its players following the NBA’s warning, CNN learned, while the Nets and Warriors have yet to cross the threshold or otherwise obtain exemptions.

Knicks general manager Scott Perry had an off-screen interview with reporters on Friday, the team told CNN, and said the players, coaches and staff comply with New York City’s required vaccination rules. .

In Brooklyn, some of the Nets players are not yet eligible, but general manager Sean Marks told reporters that he is confident that everyone will be able to participate by the start of the NBA season on October 19. Training camps for NBA teams begin Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins has sought to be exempted from the vaccination rules for religious reasons, but the NBA has denied his request, the league said in a statement Friday.

“Wiggins will not be able to play in the Warriors home games until he meets the city’s vaccination requirements,” the NBA said.

CNN contacted the Wiggins representation for comment. The Warriors on Friday declined to comment.

Players don’t have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to play, a source familiar with talks between the league and the players’ union told CNN earlier this month.

No major professional sports league in the United States has required its players to be vaccinated, but a relaxation of Covid-19 safety procedures has often been granted after a vaccination threshold is reached.

The NBA announced last month that it would require referees and other staff working with players during the 2021-22 season to be fully vaccinated unless they have a religious or medical exemption.

“The referees have also agreed to take any recommended boosters,” the league said in a statement last month. “Any referee who does not get vaccinated and is not exempt will not be admitted to work matches”.

CNN’s Jill Martin and David Close contributed to this report.