The NBA note proposes strict COVID-19 protocols for unvaccinated players

Unvaccinated NBA players will have lockers as far away from their vaccinated teammates as possible and will have to eat, fly and travel by bus in different sections as part of the league’s planned COVID-19 health and safety protocols. The protocols were handed out to teams on Thursday in a note obtained by ESPN.

The rules are not final and are subject to ongoing talks with the National Basketball Players Association, but the guidelines make it clear that vaccinated and unvaccinated players will have very different off-field experiences over the next season.

Unvaccinated players will have to undergo tests on game days and training days and, depending on team schedules, may have to take two tests on some game days. Vaccinated players will not be tested daily and will only be tested if they have symptoms themselves or are exposed to someone confirmed as COVID-19 positive.

If an unvaccinated player is considered close contact with someone who has tested positive, he or she will need to enter a mandatory seven-day quarantine. Currently, vaccinated players are not expected to face quarantine if they have close contact, but do not test positive.

At team meals, the note calls for unvaccinated players not to sit next to vaccinated teammates and to be at least one meter away from others. The same rules apply for team meetings.

On flights, the note says unvaccinated players may need to be in a section of the plane reserved for team staff, which could mean less spacious seats. On buses, unvaccinated players should sit away from other players or on a separate bus from vaccinated players.

Last week, the NBA informed teams that all coaches and staff members, in addition to night staff working within 15 yards of players or referees, must be fully vaccinated. Also last week, the NBA and the refereeing union announced an agreement for the vaccination of all referees.

Thursday’s note also said the league hopes to reach an agreement with the union that requires all players to be tested for COVID-19 antibodies as part of the preseason physical tests.

Unvaccinated players who have documented COVID-19 recovery over the previous six months may have some of the protocols relaxed, pending final approval.