'I'll keep that a private thing': LeBron James avoids answering if he'll get the COVID-19 vaccine after NBA commissioner said he will NOT make it mandatory

 Legendary Laker LeBron James, 36, avoided answering if he'll get the coronavirus vaccine, saying in an interview that he'll 'keep that a private thing.'

James appeared wishy-washy about the COVID-19 jab as he gave a lengthy interview ahead of the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, after NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently announced that he would not make the vaccine mandatory.

'That's a conversation that my family and I will have and I pretty much I'll keep that to a private thing,' James said.

'Obviously I've seen Adam had his comments about the vaccination and whatnot. But things like that, when you decide to do something that's a conversation between you and your family and I'll keep it that way.'

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James appeared wishy-washy about the COVID-19 jab as he gave a lengthy interview ahead of the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday

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Legendary Laker LeBron James, left, avoided answering if he'll get the coronavirus vaccine

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James appeared wishy-washy about the COVID-19 jab as he gave a lengthy interview ahead of the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. He is pictured playing for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at Ball Arena on February 14

Silver said during a press conference on Saturday that he was not aware of any player in the league who had been vaccinated yet.

'There are some coaches who have been vaccinated as well as some team personnel, and the coaches who have been vaccinated it was because they were age appropriate under the protocols in the jurisdictions where they live,' Silver said.

Silver said that 'ultimately' he thinks the decision on whether to get the vaccine is a personal one.

'My hunch is that most players ultimately will choose to get vaccinated. They have to make personal decisions at the end of the day,' Silver said.

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently announced that he would not make the vaccine mandatory

The interview with LeBron, who has won four NBA championships, will likely influence members of the black community which has a historical skepticism on getting the vaccine rooted in events like the Tuskegee syphilis study.

LeBron's interview has already started debates online speculating on its effects to the community.

'There’s no point in answering this way unless he doesn’t want to get it. This is a pretty bad look,' said Anthony Irwin of the Locked-On Lakers podcast.

'I think it’ says some pretty telling stuff about society that there exist people out there who are waiting to hear from their fav celebrity to decide on whether or not to get the vaccine but as it is the case, we need a better response from NBA players than we’ve gotten thus far.'

He added, attaching a photo of LeBron with a mask not covering his nose: 'Color me shocked that someone who consistently (read: always) rocks the chin diaper would say something dumb about the vaccine.'

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Critics and fans were quick to comment on Twitter to discuss LeBron James' comments on the vaccine

Sports reporter Chris Rongey wrote that: 'LeBron does a lot of good for people, but this is decidedly not good.'

'People in the position of influence need to take the vaccine and let everyone know they're doing it. If it convinces any amount of people to do likewise, it's worth it,' Rongey wrote.

Wosny Lambre, who covers the NBA for The Athletic, wrote that 'it’s not LeBron’s job to explain to people that they should be vaccinated.'

'Folks have to stop with this line of thinking. HE COULDNT DELIVER OHIO TO HRC! But he’s going to convince America to be vaccinated? Stop with this crap man,' Lambre wrote.

Split Zone Duo co-host Alex Kirshner tweeted criticism of the entire debate.

'The discourse around that LeBron vaccine quote will be something else. A few folks are gonna have to decide if they’re willing to acknowledge COVID is dangerous or else pass up an opportunity to get lots of RTs calling him a fraud. Tough spot,' Kirshner tweeted.

'My interpretation is that there’s power in LeBron saying he’s getting the vaccine and that he wants to wield this leverage against the NBA in whatever way he can. LeBron's too smart to be an anti-vaxxer,' Lakers fan David Chia wrote on Twitter.

As of Sunday afternoon, there have been 28,984,170 cases of the coronavirus in the United States with 524,794 deaths.