NBA legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has suggested that unvaccinated players are axed from teams before the season opener

The NBA does not require its players to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to play but referees and other staff who have close contact with players are required to be fully vaccinated to continue in their roles.

Reacting to the uncertainty of some players getting vaccinated, Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar, 74, slammed players who ‘are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation’ and wants them axed.

‘The NBA should insist that all players and staff are vaccinated or remove them from the team,’ Abdul-Jabbar told Rolling Stone.

‘There is no room for players who are willing to risk the health and lives of their teammates, the staff and the fans simply because they are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation or do the necessary research.’

‘ What I find especially disingenuous about the vaccine deniers is their arrogance at disbelieving immunology and other medical experts. Yet, if their child was sick or they themselves needed emergency medical treatment, how quickly would they do exactly what those same experts told them to do?”