Detroit Pistons are championship level on vaccines; other NBA players say no

The Detroit Pistons were undefeated in one very important category last year: Zero players tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. It looks like they are attempting to keep that streak alive.

On the court, things might have not gone great for the Detroit Pistons last season, winning just 20 games. However, one excuse they could not use – which is a good thing-, is losing player availability due to health protocols with COVID-19.

The Pistons did not have a single player have to miss a game due to COVID-19 protocols. They did have several games postponed due to the virus, but that was entirely due to the other team.

To have 17 young men (their two two-way players basically were part of the Pistons roster), many out on their own for the first time, and not have any get tested positive is a great accomplishment. Kudos to not only to the discipline of the Detroit players, but of the Pistons medical team.

It appears the Pistons are trying to be leaders in keeping on top of the virus this season as well:

As is pointed out in the tweet, whether a person gets the vaccine is a personal decision (there is no mandate for NBA players to get it) but, if everyone has taken ‘the jab’, it is one less distraction.

With NBA training camps approaching, who is vaccinated and who is not, is starting to become an issue, particularly in places like New York City and San Francisco, where the health protocols for large, indoor events are quite strict.

The two biggest cases are Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets.

Wiggins was denied a religious exemption from getting the vaccine. If he does not get it, under city ordinance, he will not be allowed to play in Warriors’ home games.

New York has a similar rule and, so far, Irving also has reportedly not been vaccinated. He will also not be allowed to play in Nets home games if the status does not change. Of course, being Kyrie, he has apparently some … interesting reasons … for not getting it.

Michigan does not have the same restrictions in place, although it is a moot point now, since all the Pistons are vaccinated.

(Note: Visiting players are not effected by the New York and San Francisco rules)

The NBA Players Association made it plain to the league office that a vaccine mandate is ‘a non-starter’. However, whatever the pros and cons are of getting the COVID-19 vaccine are medically, there are advantages, basketball-wise, to having a completely vaccinated team.

The NBA has mandated that coaches, game-day personnel near the court and referees all must be vaccinated by October 1.

While the final protocols are still being negotiated between the union and the league office, it is known the NBA has proposed separating unvaccinated players, making them have to eat, fly and ride buses in different sections

For a team like Detroit, where literally no one has been on the team more than a year, team chemistry is very important. For a young team like the Pistons, players being able to have unrestricted access to each other and facilities, are even more important.

Contact tracing for unvaccinated should also be tougher, as it is in other pro leagues. Maybe the Pistons win a game or two more because an opponent is short-handed. Not a great way to get a ‘W’, but it could occur.

Now, the fact all the Pistons players are vaccinated does not turn them suddenly into playoff contenders. They had a clean record last year and still went 20-52. But, is one less thing to worry about for a rebuilding team.