Report: Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, Al Horford Ineligible For Games In Toronto

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and center Al Horford are unvaccinated and would therefore be ineligible for potential playoff games in Toronto, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

“The variable in all this is, who can play in Toronto?” Mannix said on TSN’s Overdrive, via Jack Simone of Heavy.com. “Like, the Celtics have some unvaccinated guys. My understanding is Jaylen Brown is unvaccinated, Al Horford is unvaccinated. Now, that can still change. There’s still enough time left in the season where, if they decide to get the vaccine, they will be eligible to play in a postseason game in Toronto.”

While the playoff seedings have yet to be set — and won’t likely be until Sunday — the Celtics and Raptors are a potential first-round matchup.

Unvaccinated players cannot cross the U.S.-Canadian border. On Thursday, 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle did not play in Thursday’s game in Toronto for that very reason. Nets star Kyrie Irving has been outspoken about his refusal to receive the vaccine.

Brown, a regular All-Star, and Horford are both starters for the Celtics. If they are in fact unvaccinated, they would of course still be able to play in all home games and any road game involving the NBA’s other 28 franchises. Just not Toronto.

All the Raptors are reportedly vaccinated, making the entire team eligible to play games in U.S. cities.

Brown was recently asked about his vaccination status and declined to give a definite answer.

“As a vice president of the player’s association, it’s a part of my job description to protect our players’ rights and our medical privacy,” Brown told reporters. “So you won’t hear me comment on my status or anybody else’s. But that’s how I feel about it.”