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Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins has not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine.
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With San Francisco mandating vaccines for indoor events, Wiggins may not be able to play home games.
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The Warriors tried to have a doctor convince Wiggins to get the vaccine, but he was unmoved.
With NBA training camps and the season rapidly approaching, the Golden State Warriors are concerned that starting forward Andrew Wiggins may not be available to play at home.
According to Rusty Simmons of The San Francisco Chronicle, Wiggins has opted not to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
In San Francisco, where the Warriors play, complete vaccination is required for indoor entertainment such as NBA games.
According to Simmons, it’s believed that the NBA would grant Wiggins a religious exemption, but the city of San Francisco could override it.
A city official told Simmons that “operators or hosts” of large indoor events must require staff to show proof of vaccination – in the Warriors’ case, this includes Wiggins. The rule does not apply to visiting teams, according to Simmons.
If Wiggins isn’t vaccinated, he may not be able to play Warriors home games.
According to Simmons, the Warriors have tried to persuade Wiggins. The team brought in a doctor with experience with vaccine hesitancy and told Wiggins about the death and suffering she has witnessed in critical COVID-19 patients.
Wiggins, however, did not change his mind, according to Simmons. Wiggins has not publicly explained his reasoning for not getting the vaccine.
Wiggins averaged 18 points in 33 minutes per game last season, playing and starting in 71 games. Wiggins shot a career-best 38% from three and led the team in minutes. He is currently projected to continue starting for a revamped Warriors squad.
Similar issues around vaccine hesitancy may plague other teams. New York City is the only other city with such vaccine mandates. Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks recently told reporters that if training camp began today, a few Nets players would not be able to participate, though he didn’t name anyone specifically. Marks said he expects that to change as training camp begins next week.
Read the original article on Insider