Sources: Unvaccinated NBA players in markets with local requirements — such as NYC (Knicks, Nets) and SF (Warriors) — will not be allowed to enter home arenas or facilities for games or team activities conducted there unless there’s approved medical or religious exemption.

Source: Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter)

ANALYSIS: Charania went on to add that this follows local-government policies, meaning unvaccinated players on the Nets, Knicks and Warriors are not allowed to play in home games, but visiting players are exempt from the vaccination requirements in New York City and San Francisco. It remains to be seen how many players this impacts, as many players around the NBA have been vaccinated over the last year.

The Athletic also reported the NBA will return to normal team bench seating for the 2021-22 season, with teams no longer requiring cool down/timeout chairs or assigned seats. With that said, game-day personnel will still be required to wear facemasks at the start of season. Fans within 15 feet of the court must be fully vaccinated or return a negative coronavirus test prior to the game, according to Charania.