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Silver: Over 70% of players vaccinated, no plans for playoff bubble

David E. Klutho / Sports Illustrated / Getty

NBA commissioner Adam Silver claims over 70% of players have received the first COVID-19 vaccination, adding that another playoff bubble is unlikely despite lingering pandemic concerns.

"More than 70% of our players have received at least one shot," Silver said as part of a comprehensive interview with Time's Sean Gregory.

Silver and the league have not forced players or team staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, adding, "We could only require them to get vaccinated with the consent of their union, but we have no plans to do so.

"We do see it as our role as the league to encourage them to get vaccinated and also demonstrate to our players that there are some very practical benefits to getting vaccinated."

However, the NBA has relaxed restrictions for teams with at least 85% of players and 85% of staff fully vaccinated.

The 2020-21 campaign has been stricken by early-season cancellations and repeated instances of players missing games, either due to contracting COVID-19 or because of the league's strict health and safety protocols.

This season has played out in stark contrast to last year's playoff bubble at the Walt Disney Resort in Florida - an idea Silver has largely been credited for. Silver says he doesn't believe the NBA will employ those makeshift plans again.

"I think it’s highly unlikely at this point that we would return to a bubble for the playoffs or the Finals," Silver told Gregory. "We always have one eye on the variants. That’s what our experts are a bit concerned about as well.

"We have fans in nearly 90% of our arenas. We see our case rates have gone down significantly," Silver continued. "There aren’t many organizations probably in the world that do as much testing as we do on a pool of individuals. So we have some very good data. And the data suggest real reason for optimism."

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is among the players who have admitted to struggles while recovering from the coronavirus, something Silver admits remains a concern.

"It absolutely worries me," Silver said. "So, of course, I’m worried about the long-term health of any player that’s contracted COVID. But based on the information we have today, I still believe that what we’ve done has only allowed them to live safer and healthier lives."

Silver, who was appointed commissioner in 2014 and witnessed league-wide revenues double to upwards of $9 billion, has received criticism for the Association's approach to COVID-19 this season.

"There’s so much that I would do differently. I don’t know where to start," Silver conceded.

"This is maybe my own sort of nature that I spend a lot of time second-guessing myself. From a process standpoint, there’s always ways to be even more inclusive. I’d say there was a bit of a dust-up around the All-Star game this year."

LeBron James was among the league's marquee stars critical of the decision to hold an All-Star Game in Atlanta, calling it a "slap in the face."

"I think it (All-Star Game) worked out very well. I realized in retrospect I didn’t adequately sell it to players, to some individual players," Silver added.

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