NBA denies Andrew Wiggins’ attempt to avoid COVID-19 vaccine for religious reasons

The NBA has denied Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins’ religious exemption request from San Francisco mandate requiring COVID-19 vaccination. 

After submitting a religious exemption from the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s order that requires the COVID-19 vaccination at large indoor events for people 12 and older, the NBA denied Golden State Warriors‘ Andrew Wiggins’ request.

If Wiggins doesn’t decide to get vaccinated, he won’t be allowed to play for the Warriors on their home court at Chase Center. This has already been a concern, but now with the official denial from the league, Andrew is going to have to make a decision.

Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins either has to get vaccinated, or miss games

Wiggins’ future with the Warriors is up in the air after receiving the official word that his request was turned down.

Not only will he not be able to play any home games in San Francisco, but he also won’t be able to play away games in New York. If Wiggins can’t suit up for Golden State at home, nor play against the Brooklyn Nets or New York Knicks, that cuts out more than half of the season.

The Knicks announced earlier Friday that their entire roster is vaccinated and the Nets expect all of their players to be vaccinated by opening night.

The Warriors are unable to make a similar announcement because of Wiggins. The only option for him right now is to either get vaccinated, or miss out on playing a large portion of the season.

If an unvaccinated player for an opposing team travels to San Francisco, he will be able to play. The local mandate just affects players on Golden State’s roster.

On March 22, Wiggins said that he wouldn’t get the vaccine unless he was forced to do so. Well, that time has come.