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The headliner at Warriors media day Monday, Wiggins took
questions from interviewers curious about whether the
26-year-old veteran would alter his views -- especially after
the NBA rejected his request for a religious exemption to the
local COVID-19 vaccination order.
Judging from his comments, Wiggins may seem willing to risk a
significant portion of his $31.6 million salary if he does not
play any home games because of his unvaccinated status.
"I'm just going to keep all that private right now," Wiggins
said. "Again, anything that has to do with my status,
vaccination, I'm just going to keep that private. It's a
personal matter, so I'm going to keep it personal and private.
"Back is definitely against the wall. But I'm just going to keep
fighting for what I believe. And whether it's one thing or
another, get a vaccination or not get a vaccination, who knows?
I'm just going to keep fighting for what I believe and what I
believe is right. What's right to one person isn't right to the
other and vice versa."
Back in March, Wiggins discussed his perspective on the COVID-19
vaccine, adding perhaps he'd eventually get the shot if "forced
to somehow."
"To each his own, really. Whoever wants to get it, can get it;
whoever doesn't want to get it, don't get it," Wiggins said
then. "Right now, I'm not getting it, but it's no knock on
anyone else that's getting it. I make my own decisions. But
right now, I decided not to get it."
When asked how his organization could make season plans with the
potential for a primary starter to miss half of his team's
games, general manager Bob Myers deflected Monday.
"We're optimistic that we'll have our full complement of
players," said Myers. "We'll just leave that at that."
Wiggins averaged 18.6 points and 4.9 rebounds last season -- his
first full campaign with the Golden State Warriors. The swingman
shot a career-high 47.7 percent from the field and a
personal-best 38.0 percent from 3-point range in 71 games (all
starts).
The Warriors, who went 39-33 last season as the eighth seed in
the Western Conference, begin their season Oct. 19 at the Los
Angeles Lakers.
--Field Level Media
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