NBA players and staff must wear sensors beginning Jan. 7
Ethan Fuller
Dec 31 2020 7:21PM UTC
The NBA is planning to require all players and many staffers to wear sensors beginning on January 7, in an effort to improve contact tracing procedures.
Source: Baxter Holmes/ESPN
ANALYSIS: According to Holmes, "Only Tier 1 and Tier 2 individuals -- designations outlined in the league's health and safety protocols that include players and specific staff members, such as coaches -- will be required to wear Kinexon SafeZone contact sensor devices on the team plane, the team bus, during practices and to and from the arena or their home practice facility in connection with team travel.
"Not wearing the sensors is subject to discipline, but it's unclear what the discipline might be. Players are not required to wear the sensors during games or at the team hotel when traveling."
The league is clearly aiming to improve its efforts as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, even after no players tested positive in the past week. It remains to be seen how the players and coaches will take these new mandates.
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