Silver vows NBA won't 'jump the line' for COVID-19 vaccines
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league won't leverage its influence to help players and staff obtain COVID-19 vaccinations beyond their normal priority level.
"There's no way we'd ever jump the line in any form whatsoever," Silver told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on Monday, according to Tim Bontemps. "And, for the most part, because our players are so young and healthy without some sort of comorbidity, they will not be a high priority for vaccinations.
"There are some other members of the NBA community working on court who are older and will have a higher priority to get the vaccine."
Among active head coaches, only 71-year-old San Antonio Spurs icon Gregg is over the age of 65 - one of the groups the Centers for Disease Control recommends is a priority for the vaccine. However, there are a number of prominent assistants, including recent head coaches in the Brooklyn Nets' Mike D'Antoni (69) and the Sacramento Kings' Alvin Gentry (66), who are members of that higher-risk age group.
In any case, Silver expects the NBA will assist public health officials by getting the word out on issues relating to COVID-19.
"We will very likely be part of some public service campaigns," Silver added. "We already talked to the CDC and other federal agencies about that, encouraging people to get vaccinated when it is appropriate.
"But up until then, we will just be watching and waiting."