NBA Players Stand Up For Themselves Against Taking The Covid Vaccine
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac addressed the media September 27, about his personal beliefs on refusing the vaccine.
By: Omar Cook
As the world adjusts to new societal norms, and covid vaccine mandates across different work industries, we are seeing people rebel and risk their careers to stand up for what they believe in. The pandemic is something never before seen in our lifetime and everyone is doing what they feel is necessary to protect themselves. With a history of medical malpractice, lies, and injustice towards Black Americans in this country, it is not uncommon to see people reject the vaccine due to their fears of potential long term side effects.
The NBA has caught major attention after several high profile players have decided to speak out against taking the vaccine. The league currently cannot require players to be vaccinated after the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) rejected the NBA’s proposal for a mandate.
"A vaccine mandate for NBA players would need an agreement with the Players Association," league spokesperson Mike Bass said. "The NBA has made these proposals but the players' union has rejected any vaccination requirement."
Players such as Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, Andrew Wiggins, and Jonathan Isaac have been vocal about their beliefs to refuse the vaccine and are standing ten toes down on their decision despite heavy criticism from mainstream media and fans. At a September 27 press conference, Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac articulately stated his reasons for not taking the vaccine.
"I'm not anti-Vax. I'm not anti-medicine. I'm not anti-science," Issac said. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for every health care worker in person in Orlando, and all across the world that has worked tirelessly to keep us safe. My mom has worked in healthcare for a really long time. I thank God I'm grateful that I live in a society where vaccines are possible, and we can protect ourselves and have the means to protect ourselves for the first in the first place."
"I'm not ashamed to say that I'm uncomfortable with taking the vaccine at this time. I think that we're all different. We all come from different places, we've all had different experiences, and hold dear to different beliefs," he said. "What it is that you do with your body when it comes to putting medicine in there should be your choice, free of the ridicule and the opinion of others."
Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins faces the possibility of losing more than $350,000 per game if he is unable to play home games due to San Francisco’s indoor vaccine mandate. It could result in him missing half of the season.
“Back is definitely against the wall, but I’m just going to keep fighting for what I believe,” Wiggins said at media day. “I’m going to keep fighting for what I believe is right. What’s right to one person isn’t right to the other and vice versa.”
His teammate Draymond Green showed support at a press conference stating:
"It's not my place or my business on whether he gets vaccinated or not — it's your own personal choice at the end of the day what you do with your body. It's not my place to tell him what he should or shouldn't do with his. Because he's not going to come tell me what I should do with my body."
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was not able to attend the team's media day at Barclays Center on Monday due to New York City's COVID-19 protocols, and he repeatedly declined to address his vaccination status or what his plans were for it in the future. Kyrie has been heavily ridiculed in the media in the past few years for his personal thoughts and beliefs but he has always remained adamant about his thoughts.
Kyrie also faces the possibility of losing half of his expected $36.6 million as will not be able to play in home games in New York due to vaccine mandates.
This is only the beginning of what will be a media frenzy and the ultimate villainization of players who refuse to take the vaccine. The push and pull between being unvaccinated and vaccinated has become extremely political and the freedom of choice is rapidly being taken away, especially for those who would like to keep a job.
At the end of the day, every individual should have the right to choose what to put into their body, and every individual should be responsible for properly doing what is necessary to protect themselves, which includes working out, eating properly, and building up your natural immune system. We have become reliant on medical experts to come save the day with a magical vaccine instead of preaching daily health tips and living a healthier lifestyle. This country has a history of segregation and it is slowly moving from racial to medical segregation as media outlets further push the agenda to get vaccinated. Time will tell what is to come…stand tall on your beliefs.
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