After a growth in 2020 which has suffered the full brunt of the effects of the pandemic, the Draft process and all that it generates is regaining a semblance of normality this year, with the “lottery” which will take place tomorrow and the Combine which goes from again to be held in Chicago, as usual.
But there are still small variations resulting from the health situation, and large differences in treatment between players vaccinated and those who are not yet.
The first thing is that representatives of NBA franchises who are already vaccinated can easily attend the tests and interviews at the Wintrust Arena and they will not even need to wear a mask. On the other hand, those who have not yet received their vaccine doses will only be able to attend from a distance …
For the players, it is the same logic that is respected, and even harder. Aspirants to the Great League who have not yet been vaccinated will have to prepare for an obstacle course, with PCR tests to be provided daily and a quarantine of seven days if they are considered as contact cases.
“You will have a lot more chances of being invited to NBA workouts [si tu es vacciné] », explains an anonymous NBA agent on The Athletic.
“The teams clearly want guys who are vaccinated”
A positive Covid-19 test could be catastrophic, knowing that the player who will have to be in isolation could miss several workouts in a row, given their very busy schedule at this time of the year.
Conversely, even if they have been the subject of a positive or inconclusive test, players who have already been vaccinated could be back to the Combine in less than 24 hours (against 48 hours or more for unvaccinated players).
“Your life will be more difficult [si tu n’es pas vacciné] », add another agent. “The teams clearly want guys who are vaccinated. “
In short, and at this stage of the pandemic as NBA theaters reopen their doors to the public and catering establishments are back in business across the United States, the ultimate vaccine-resistant are simply not the ones. welcome to the Great League.
“If you are not vaccinated, you should not be eligible for the Draft”, even concludes an NBA decision maker.
