NBA Hall Of Famer Slams Kyrie Irving, Other Anti-Vax Players For Irresponsible Actions

NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has issued a scathing statement about players who refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

In an email correspondence with Rolling Stone, Abdul-Jabbar is pushing the NBA’s biggest stars to get vaccinated before the season starts.

“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,” he stated.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend had a lot more to say, especially towards those who do not believe in what the medical experts say.

“What I find especially disingenuous about the vaccine deniers is their arrogance at disbelieving immunology and other medical experts," he said.

“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?”

With the country slowly opening up to having live events, being vaccinated for COVID-19 has become a requirement across establishments and sports leagues.

However, many remain steadfast in their beliefs that the vaccine does not work and that it is all a conspiracy theory that has pervaded even the NBA’s locker rooms.

Abdul-Jabbar also said that NBA players who continue to not use their platform responsibly should no longer be considered role models.

“They (NBA players) are failing to live up to the responsibilities that come with celebrity. Athletes are under no obligation to be spokespersons for the government, but this is a matter of public health,” said the Lakers legend.

“By not encouraging their people to get the vaccine, they’re contributing to these deaths. I’m also concerned about how this perpetuates the stereotype of dumb jocks who are unable to look at the verified scientific evidence and reach a rational conclusion.”

Rolling Stone also reported that around 50 to 60 NBA players are yet to be vaccinated, according to league sources.

Notable names such as Kyrie Irving, Dennis Schroder and Andrew Wiggins have all been listed as “vaccine dodgers,” opting to find ways to skirt around getting the vaccination.

The NBA season starts on October 19, but in the days leading up to it, fans may see new policies that will help protect them and their favorite players from contracting the deadly virus.

It is believed that the league will enforce a new rule dictating that all on-court personnel must be vaccinated as the NBA hopes to usher their players and fans away from contracting the deadly virus