The season that changed Andrew Wiggins' career forever was at risk before it began.
He was unvaccinated against COVID-19 when training camp tipped off last September, wary of the shot's long-term effects in part due to an allergic reaction he had a few years ago. But San Francisco mandated vaccinations for people working in the city, leaving Wiggins with the option of sitting out games at Chase Center or getting the vaccine.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick chose the latter route, obviously, a decision that culminated in the by far the best season of his career.
Even after helping the Warriors win a fourth championship in eight seasons, establishing himself as one of the league's best two-way role players and even garnering some fleeting Finals MVP buzz, though, Wiggins feels no different about being vaccinated against a virus that continues to kill around 2,000 people per day worldwide, leaving many more facing hospitalization or sustained symptoms.
“I still wish I didn’t get it, to be honest with you, but you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do,” he said of the vaccine, per Wiggins told FanSided’s Mark Carman. “I did it, and I was an All-Star this year and champion, so that was the good part, just not missing out on the year, the best year of my career.”
“But for my body, I just don’t like putting all that stuff in my body, so I didn’t like that and I didn’t like that it wasn’t my choice. I didn’t like that it was either get this or don’t play.”
Wiggins got vaccinated and won a title, taking his career to new heights in the process. Kyrie Irving's refusal sparked the Brooklyn Nets' epic team-wide collapse, leaving him stranded as the front office deals with Kevin Durant's trade request.
Wiggins is wrong about the adverse long-term effects of coronavirus vaccinations, but remains entitled to his opinion on vaccine mandates. What really matters is that he prioritized Golden State's greater good over himself, encouraging public health.
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