Among the reported 5% of NBA players who have yet to receive a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is Dallas Mavericks guard Trey Burke.
The 28-year-old explained via text that he was "(respectfully) declining" vaccination, in line with his family's approach to modern medicine, according to Fox 4 News' Mike Doocy.
"I believe more in holistic and naturalistic 'medicine' rather than the 'drug' industry or what we know today as 'pharmaceuticals,'" Burke wrote. "I don't have any issue with the choices my teammates have made, and they feel the same in return and have been in support with my decision!"
Burke added that he would be "closely following protocol and the guidelines the NBA has set in place" for unvaccinated players.
Unlike New York City and San Francisco, Dallas doesn't have local health restrictions that would prevent Burke from appearing in home games. However, unvaccinated players must adhere to strict health and safety measures - in line with the restrictions in place for NBA players prior to the vaccine's introduction, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
Burke averaged just under 15 minutes per game off the Mavs' bench last season, tallying 6.6 points and 1.3 assists per game. He's under contract for $3.3 million for 2021-22 and has a player option for 2022-23.
