The Associated Press
Unmasked: NBA coaches allowed to open playoffs without masks
Just in time for the playoffs, the NBA told its head coaches Saturday they may work without masks during games if they have been fully vaccinated. All eight coaches whose teams had playoff openers Saturday – Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue, Dallas’ Rick Carlisle, Boston’s Brad Stevens, Brooklyn’s Steve Nash, Portland’s Terry Stotts and Denver’s Michael Malone – all roamed their sidelines without masks, the first time all season that coaches were permitted to do so. The NBA’s updated policy is consistent with the way things have been trending in the league during the pandemic: Those who are vaccinated simply have more freedoms than those who are not.