A well-known NBA referee says he lost his job over his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ken Mauer, who was first hired by the NBA as an official in 1986, says he lost his job over the league’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for officials. Mauer did not want to take the vaccine because of religious reasons.
Mauer shared his story in an interview on “Fearless with Jason Whitlock.”
“I never thought that my faith in our Lord Jesus Christ would prevent me or stop me or get in the way of me refereeing NBA basketball games. … That’s what’s happened,” Mauer told Whitlock. “Not to just me, but other people.”
Mauer says there were initially as many as 17 officials who did not want to take the vaccine. However, by the start of the season, only four holdouts remained, including Mauer.
“There are many referees that didn’t want to take the vaccine. And there are many referees who were forced to because they have children, they have families, and they have bills to pay. … They’re scared and I’m not. I’m never going to take (the vaccine),” Mauer told Whitlock.
Ken Mauer wishes the National Basketball Referees Association was more like the truckers in the Freedom Convoy. Mauer believes NBA refs could've fought off the vaccine mandate. pic.twitter.com/hjC7Wdp1EW
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) February 22, 2022
Of the four holdouts, one agreed to arbitration and lost, while another, who heads the replay center, is paid to work from home. Mauer and another official have filed an appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Center.
Mauer, 66, is the third-longest tenured referee in NBA history. One of his career goals was to become the longest-tenured NBA official ever. But that goal is currently in jeopardy as long as the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement with the NBA officials calls for vaccine requirements.
Though the NBA has a vaccine requirement for officials, they do not have such a mandate for the players.
Photo: April 14, 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; NBA referee Ken Mauer (41) during the third quarter between the Sacramento Kings and the Washington Wizards at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
