Atlanta Hawks players get COVID-19 vaccines

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Players of the Atlanta Hawks were vaccinated for the novel coronavirus, the NBA announced on Friday.

The NBA said 14 Hawks players had received their first doses of the jab after Thursday night's win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A total of 36 individuals in the team were vaccinated, including Italian forward Danilo Gallinari.

"At the State Farm Arena I was grateful to receive the first dose of the COVID vaccine. In this critical time it is important to believe in the benefits of the vaccine and protect all of our love ones. I look forward to the second dosage and to a new chapter of our life," Gallinari said on Twitter.

In the state of Georgia, everyone with a body mass index (BMI) over 25 is eligible to get vaccinated.

The US national public health agency CDC says that a BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight.

The Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans are still the only NBA teams that were received coronavirus vaccinations.

Last week, the Pelicans said that several team members had gotten their first doses.