The Boston Celtics kicked off training camp this week, which has been filled with excitement due to new additions.
The team’s offseason additions such as Dennis Schroder, Al Horford, and Josh Richardson have brought hope back to eastern Massachusetts that was severely lacking last season. However, the biggest takeaway from the week so far has been that the Cs are not fully vaccinated as a team.
According to a Rolling Stone report from Matt Sullivan, the Boston Celtics have multiple players who are unvaccinated. This was reported after an interview done with Enes Kanter, who stated his frustration with the unvaccinated players.
"“If you’re a player and you’re not vaccinated, and you miss a week or two weeks, it could literally change the whole season. And we’re trying to win a championship!” Kanter said to Rolling Stone."
One Cs player who has been rumored to be unvaccinated is recently acquired guard Josh Richardson. Richardson has been outspoken on issues regarding the vaccination, and he remains unsure about what he will do moving forward.
Josh Richardson, who has spoken out against vaccination, said he's unsure about his path and decision, considering he would have to miss the #Celtics opening game at NYK if he isn't.
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) September 27, 2021
The Celtics vaccine status is frustrating considering they were one of the worst teams at handling COVID-19 last season. They had multiple players test positive for the virus in 2020-21, including All-Star forward Jayson Tatum.
Some would argue that their issues with COVID-19 helped derail their season.
I think the Celtics should be worried about their vaccination status, and they should be doing everything they can to make sure they are fully inoculated come tip-off.
Josh Richardson and the other players should follow the lead of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart who are fully vaxed. They have set a great example, and getting vaccinated can help protect the team.
The Celtics would be putting themselves in a great position if they get fully vaccinated because it lowers the risk of key players missing time. COVID-19 will continue to be a factor in the NBA this season, and it could impact other Eastern Conference contenders.
For example, if Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving stays unvaccinated, he will not be able to play in home games this season. This could help the Celtics out greatly, and if they are all inoculated, they can take advantage of this opportunity.
If Boston wants to put themselves in the best position to raise banner 18, they should start by getting vaccinated.