With the NBA preseason tipping off on October 3, Los Angeles Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has voiced his opinion on players and staff who choose to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19, urging the league to take further action.

“The NBA should insist that all players and staff are vaccinated or remove them from the team,” Abdul-Jabbar told Rolling Stone. “There is no room for players who are willing to risk the health and lives of their teammates, the staff and the fans simply because they are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation or do the necessary research."

Currently, NBA players are not required to be vaccinated. However, all referees and most NBA staff and team personnel working within 15 feet of players are mandated to be vaccinated by October 1. Rolling Stone reports that around 50 to 60 players have yet to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

On Friday, the NBA announced that it has denied a religious exemption from the vaccine for Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins, essentially prohibiting him from taking part in any home games due to the state of San Francisco’s public health rules. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving did not attend his team's media day on Monday due to New York City's proof-of-vaccine requirements and has declined to share his vaccination status to the public.

Through all this, Abdul-Jabbar says athletes need to be role models for their communities and be leaders in the ongoing efforts against COVID-19.

“They are failing to live up to the responsibilities that come with celebrity," he said. "Athletes are under no obligation to be spokespersons for the government, but this is a matter of public health.”