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Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors dribbles in the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, U.S., March 25, 2021. /CFP
The NBA has rejected a request by Andrew Wiggins to be exempt from getting a COVID-19 vaccine. The ruling, announced on Friday, means that the No. 2 scorer of the Golden State Warriors for the 2020-21 season could miss at least half of the 2021-22 regular season games.
"The NBA has reviewed and denied Andrew Wiggins' request for religious exemption from the San Francisco Department of Public Health's order requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all participants age 12 and older at large indoor events. Wiggins will not be able to play in Warriors home games until he fulfills the city's vaccination requirements," said the league in a statement.
Wiggins has not received a COVID-19 vaccine, citing religious beliefs. The league has not made it mandatory for players to get the jab but cities like San Francisco and New York are banning NBA players who have not been vaccinated from entering their teams' home arenas.
An overall view of Chase Center, home arena to the NBA's Golden Stae Warriors, in San Francisco, U.S. /CFP
"Under the current order, if unvaccinated, they cannot enter indoor areas regardless of the reason they are unvaccinated and cannot test out of this requirement even if they have a medical or religious exemption," said the San Francisco Department of Public Health in a statement on Friday.
The Warriors' home arena, Chase Center, is in San Francisco and the team will play 41 home games every regular season. For every game Wiggins misses because of this issue, he may be looking at a deduction of some $350,000 from his salary.
Wiggins, who averaged 18.6 points per game for the Warriors last season, has about 20 days to change his mind.
Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets looks on in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., June 13, 2021. /CFP
The 26-year-old "Maple Jordan" is not the only unvaccinated big name in the NBA. Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets has not been inoculated either, according to Yaron Weitzman of FOX Sports reports.
The Nets' home arena, Barclays Center, is in Brooklyn borough of New York City. Irving may miss all 41 home games of the regular season just like Wiggins. The Nets have so far seen their Big 3 – Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden – play in the same game just eight times since the trio came together in January.
