NBA lifts mask order for head coaches

NBA head coaches who have been fully vaccinated no longer have to wear masks during games.

Head coaches, however, will still have to wear masks during halftime, warmups, shootarounds before the beginning of the third quarter and after the game, according to The Associated Press. Additionally, they are required to wear face coverings when meeting with opposing coaches on the court after games.

Assistant coaches and players are not included in the new guidance, and are still required to wear masks while in the bench area, the news service noted.

The decision, according to the AP, was announced by the league on Saturday, and head coaches did not hesitate to take advantage of the relaxed restrictions.

The AP noted that the head coaches of all eight teams that competed in playoff games on Saturday did not wear masks on the sidelines for the first time all season.

The list includes Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks, Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers, Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks, Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics, Steve Nash of the Brooklyn Nets, Terry Stotts of the Portland Trailblazers and the Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets.

The NBA, which just kicked off its playoffs season, is also now allowing more fans in the stands, another sign that the nation is recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Miami Heat, according to the news service, announced this weekend that it has been approved to host 17,000 fans at its stadium beginning Thursday, which is the largest known number of spectators the league has allowed so far this year.

The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks also announced increases in spectator capacity, the AP noted.

The NBA’s new guidelines come after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced earlier this month that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely resume life without masks or physical distancing.