#Scott Brooks laments ‘embarrassing’ mask debate as Dwight Howard doubles down

Wearing a facemask as he spoke with reporters Tuesday night, the Wizards coach said he can’t comprehend why anyone — like, say, Dwight Howard — would opt against wearing a simple piece of protective equipment when it is scientifically proven to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.

“Without getting too political, it’s somewhat embarrassing that people are fighting over a mask. If it helps your neighbor out, to me it’s obvious; you do it,” Brooks said. “We’re all in this together. Obviously, the virus is not red or blue. It’s out to get everybody and we have to keep everybody as safe as possible. It makes no sense that we’re arguing, we’re fighting over masks. It’s actually embarrassing.

“It’s a no-brainer for me. Do I like wearing it? No. Sometimes it’s not the easiest thing to communicate or breathe, but it’s the best thing to do.”

While the NBA has had tremendous success in controlling the virus within its bubble in Florida’s Disney World — the league reported that the most recent round of tests found no positive cases among players — the threat level changes every day, due to staff permitted to leave the property.

Howard was anonymously reported by another player for not wearing a mask, with the Lakers center saying he did not “see a risk of us getting (the virus) during the time period we’re here.”

“I didn’t know that the coronavirus be flying through the air looking for people,” Howard said during an Instagram Live session.

Howard later went against science with his vaccine stance.

“I don’t believe in vaccines myself,” Howard said. “Will vaccines work for some people? They may or they may not. But for me, I don’t believe in them and that is my opinion and I’m going to stick with that.”

By Tuesday, Howard faced enough backlash that he boasted that he had numerous facemasks in his hotel room, which he claims to wear, when necessary.

“I have followed all these rules and I am in my room right now,” Howard said. “So when these people are saying that I’m doing stuff and I’m saying stuff on Live, we’re not gonna let it slide. … I wear my mask when I’m supposed to. I do exactly what I’m supposed to when I have to.

“If you not inside the bubble and you go out there in public, yes protect yourself. Put a mask on, do what you gotta do.”