NBA won't have vaccine mandate for 2022-23

The NBA won't have a vaccine mandate in place for the upcoming 2022-23 season, according to a league memo obtained by Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill.

The league will, however, strongly suggest all personnel be fully vaccinated and could potentially test unvaccinated players on occasion, Goodwill adds.

There was no league-wide vaccine mandate for players last season, but COVID-19 shots were required for all team personnel who worked within 15 feet of players or referees during games. That group included coaches, front-office members, and trainers.

Despite the NBA having no formal rule in place, the home markets of teams could overrule the league with their own policies. To begin last season, the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Toronto Raptors all played in cities with stricter vaccine policies, though rules affecting the Warriors, Nets, and Knicks were pulled back in March.

Both home and visiting players of the Raptors are still subject to Canadian rules for unvaccinated travelers, which require a 14-day quarantine period upon entering the country - effectively barring any NBAer without the shot to suit up on the Raptors' floor.