LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers expect all their performers to be there when the curtain goes up on the new NBA Season.
Rob Pelinka, Lakers president of basketball operations, said that all players currently on the Lakers roster will be fully vaccinated on opening night against the Golden State Warriors. "We are truly grateful for that."
Although the league will not require players to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as was reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Baxter Holmes and Baxter Holmes last week, some teams will need to adhere to stricter safety and health protocols based on their county's safety and health requirements.
Pelinka stated that the Lakers will consult with UCLA Health (a sponsor of the team) to ensure the vaccinations for their players.
He said, "I believe in collaboration with UCLA as well as the doctors and people internal, we will be thankful that there won't be interruptions caused due to the vaccinated status a player or staff member."
LeBron James, a Lakers star, was asked May if he was vaccinated against coronavirus. He said that it was a family matter. Dwight Howard, an L.A. center, was asked by the Lakers to confirm the effectiveness of vaccines in May. Howard had returned to the Lakers as an unrestricted agent.
"Do you believe in vaccinations?" Howard asked the question in an Instagram Live video from July 2020. "No, I do not. This is my opinion. However, it's not mine.
Pelinka didn't name the players who have not been vaccinated yet.
As the 2021-22 season approaches, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have been working together to develop protocols for unvaccinated and vaccinated players. Sources told ESPN that unvaccinated players may be separated from their vaccinated teammates at team functions, meals and locker rooms.
Sources said that the Lakers will open their training camp unofficially with a minicamp in Las Vegas organized by James this weekend. On Tuesday, they will hold a media day in L.A. The Athletic first reported the news about the minicamp.
The team will then have five days of practice before the preseason opener against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 3. The regular season will start approximately two weeks later, at home against the Warriors on Oct. 19.
Pelinka stated that "I think we are incredibly excited" with the help of the state and local authorities. However, she was excited about the possibility that Staples Center would be packed with Lakers fans on opening night.
Staples Center could only operate at 33% capacity when the Lakers hosted Golden State during the spring play-in tournament (roughly 6,000 fans) instead of the full 18,997.
As James begins his 19th season, he will appear slimmer to them.
Pelinka commented on James, "I think the thing which stands out is his fitness level." He's slimmed down. We all know LeBron studies greats and adds something to his game. I believe he has made the decision to get back to being a bit slimmer, which will translate into his explosiveness, speed, and agility."
James shaved 17 digits from his uniform and changed to No. James dropped 17 digits off his uniform, changing from No. 23 to No. 6. Sources told ESPN that he has maintained his weight at the same 250-pounds he was last season. Sources said that his offseason program was more focused on building lean muscle than losing weight.
James will be turning 37 in December. He is among a number of Lakers trying to extend his prime. Out of 13 players currently on the roster, nine have 12-plus years' experience. This is the highest number of players in league history. The 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs had seven and the 2016-17 Cleveland Cavaliers had seven.
Pelinka described the organization's offseason efforts to strengthen the medical and training staff in order to keep the aging roster afloat. This included replacing Nina Hsieh as head athletic trainer with Roger Sancho of the Warriors, and adding personnel to this department.
Pelinka stated that the team is moving towards a more customized model around players. I believe we live in a world that is more personalized in the television we watch, in the food we order when we go to restaurants and in the way we prepare our meals. It's smart to tailor our approach for the services we provide around the player in the training area. This will be the main focus of our staff when they go into camp.
