NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has called on teams to take a firm stance and axe unvaccinated players from their roster.
The six-time NBA champion was responding to a damning report in Rolling Stone that detailed the anti-vax stance held by a proportion of players across the league.
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.
Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar, 74, shamed players who 'are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation' and wants to see the league impose strict penalties that would see them kicked off a team as a result.
'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.'
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (left) wants unvaccinated NBA players, such as Golden State Warriors small forward Andrew Wiggins (right), kicked off teams unless they chance their stance
The NBA announced on Friday that it has denied Wiggins' religious exemption to avoid vaccination as it orders players to get double-jabbed ahead of the new 2021-2022 season
The issue around player vaccination is becoming increasingly fraught across the NBA with New York City and San Francisco changing the landscape in August.
Both cities announced that they require that NBA players on home teams be vaccinated or they will be refused entry into arenas.
This is particularly problematic for Golden State Warriors small forward Andrew Wiggins, who has elected not to be vaccinated.
His request for religious exemption was denied by the league and a failure to alter his stance on vaccination would see Wiggins ineligible for the Warriors' 41 home games.
Wiggins still has time, as San Francisco's mandate doesn't take effect until the middle of next month. Training camps open today.
Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Kyrie Irving sat out media day on Monday but he remotely refused to shed any light on his vaccination status. Also at media day, Washington Wizards' franchise star Bradley Beal said, 'I don't think you can pressure anybody into doing things, or putting things in their body.'
During an interview on Don Lemon Tonight on Monday, Abdul-Jabbar doubled down and said any unvaccinated players are acting as bad team-mates and citizens.
Abdul-Jabbar (left - pictured playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982) doubled down and says any unvaccinated player poses an unnecessary risk to others on and off the court
Wiggins will have to sit out on the Golden State Warriors' home game next season, played at Chase Center (pictured) if he doesn't follow the NBA and San Francisco's vaccine mandate
