The Chicago Bulls tipped off Media Day on Monday with Arturas Karnisovas and Billy Donovan at the podium.
Both had plenty to say about the choices made this offseason and the goals in training camp (more on that soon), but they kept their comments brief on the team’s current vaccination status:
“I don’t know the exact percentage,” Karnisovas said when asked about how many members of the team have received the vaccine. “But it’s going to be not 100 percent, but we are getting pretty close.”
Whether or not that means he expects the team will reach the 100 percent threshold before the start of the season is unclear. It’s obviously a very important element of the season ahead.
Not being a team with a fully-vaccinated roster can come with its disadvantages. Unvaccinated players are subject to greater restrictions in behavior during the season, as well as after a positive test or in contact tracing situations. Moreover, the implications for players and teams when cities and states change their COVID laws and regulations is an unknown factor. And, of course, there’s that whole it helps keep you and those around you safe and healthy thing. That matters at a human level, which is most important, but it also matters for the team and the sport.
Zach LaVine – the first Bulls player to address the media this afternoon – also was asked about the team’s vaccination status, and he was not going to get into it:
When asked about his message to unvaccinated NBA players, Zach LaVine said he's going to keep COVID-related questions personal
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) September 27, 2021
For what it’s worth, the expectation is that LaVine is vaccinated, as NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reported that he was in between his first and second dose at the time of his positive COVID diagnosis last season:
Zach LaVine said he didn't have major symptoms following his positive COVID-19 test.
Source said LaVine had taken first shot of two-dose vaccine when he tested positive.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 5, 2021
I expect we’ll be hearing more about this topic from teams around the league as the week goes on.
Brett Taylor contributed to this post.