Report: NBA players hesitant to promote COVID-19 vaccination

Don't expect many NBA players to follow Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's footsteps in promoting the COVID-19 vaccine. 

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, "players are expressing apprehension about accepting invitations to participate in league-sponsored Public Service Announcements to bolster broader acceptance of the coronavirus vaccine." 

Wojnarowski adds that players have shown little enthusiasm about promoting the vaccine's safety and effectiveness and player angst about receiving the vaccine is consistent with those that exist in Black communities.

Players are reportedly unsure about taking the vaccine themselves and aren't keen on extending favors to the league amid plans to host the All-Star Game during the pandemic. 

Some of the NBA's best players, including LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard have slammed the idea to host the All-Star Game. James even called it "a slap in the face."

NBA commissioner Adam Silver told general managers on Tuesday that player vaccinations could begin in late March or early April, Wojnarowski reports. However, that's an optimistic timeline as the NBA will not "jump the line" to get vaccines before the general public. 

Silver also reportedly told GMs that the NBA could incentivize the vaccination process for teams and players by the loosening of quarantine and testing protocols. 

It's unclear which players will decide to get the vaccine. However, Detroit Pistons star Blake Griffin recently became the first active player to publicly promote the vaccine as part of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's duty to educate citizens on the vaccine's safety.