NBA denies Wiggins’ vaccine exemption request


The NBA has denied Andrew Wiggins’ request for a vaccination exemption, leaving the Golden State Warriors swingman ineligible to play home games until he meets San Francisco’s vaccination requirement.

The ruling was announced Friday, hours after the New York Knicks said their entire roster is vaccinated, making all their players eligible to play in their home games.

Because of local coronavirus regulations in New York and San Francisco, the Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Warriors are required to be vaccinated to play in their home arenas unless they have an exemption for medical or religious reasons.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Source: Warriors’ Wiggins remains unvaccinated
2dNick Friedell

Knicks fully vaccinated, adhere to NYC mandate
20hTim Bontemps

NBA: NYC, S.F. vax rules will apply to area teams
24dTim Bontemps
Wiggins sought an exemption from the NBA for religious reasons.

“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,” the league said in a statement. “Wiggins will not be able to play in Warriors home games until he fulfills the city’s vaccination requirements.”

The San Francisco Department of Public Health made clear earlier Friday that there would be no exemption for anyone 12 and older at large indoor gatherings.

“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,” it said in a statement.

Unvaccinated NBA players are allowed to play this season, though the league has said that they will have to be tested daily on practice and travel days and at least once — possibly more — on game days. Fully vaccinated players will not be subject to daily testing.

However, the Knicks, Nets and Warriors face stricter rules because of local regulations, which the NBA has told teams do not apply to clubs visiting them.

Nets general manager Sean Marks said earlier this week that a couple players wouldn’t yet be eligible but that he was confident everyone would be able to participate by the time the regular season begins Oct. 19.

Wiggins still has time, as San Francisco’s mandate doesn’t take effect until the middle of next month. Training camps open Tuesday.

The NBA has struck agreements this offseason to have virtually all parties involved in games — referees, coaches, stat-crew workers and anyone else who will be in close proximity to players on or off the court in NBA arenas — vaccinated in order to participate.

The one exception is the players themselves, with the National Basketball Players Association rebuking all efforts from the NBA to mandate that they be vaccinated. About 85% of players were vaccinated at the end of last season. The leaguewide figure is believed to have increased since then.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Got a story or tip for us? Email Sports Gossip editors at tips@sportsgossip.com 

Want More From Sports Gossip? 

For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.

You can view the original article HERE.

Isabella Rossellini’s Best Performances, Ranked
Isabella Rossellini’s Best Performances, Ranked
“Anora,” “Shōgun” Win Big with Critics Choice Awards | Festivals & Awards
“Anora,” “Shōgun” Win Big with Critics Choice Awards | Festivals & Awards
Billy Magnussen, Sarah Goldberg to Lead AMC’s Silicon Valley Series
Billy Magnussen, Sarah Goldberg to Lead AMC’s Silicon Valley Series
Sigourney Weaver Reveals She Joined the ‘Mandalorian’ Movie for Grogu
Sigourney Weaver Reveals She Joined the ‘Mandalorian’ Movie for Grogu
Samantha Mumba hits out at “unnecessarily rude” judges after coming runner-up to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2025
Samantha Mumba hits out at “unnecessarily rude” judges after coming runner-up to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2025
Listen to Bdrmm’s “aggressive” new single ‘Lake Disappointment’
Listen to Bdrmm’s “aggressive” new single ‘Lake Disappointment’
Taylor Swift Fans Seethe at Kendrick Lamar Over Halftime Show
Taylor Swift Fans Seethe at Kendrick Lamar Over Halftime Show
Smashing Pumpkins announce massive 2025 London Gunnersbury Park show with Skunk Anansie and White Lies
Smashing Pumpkins announce massive 2025 London Gunnersbury Park show with Skunk Anansie and White Lies
Everything We Know About Jason Statham’s ‘A Working Man’
Everything We Know About Jason Statham’s ‘A Working Man’
The Hunting Party Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Learning to Trust Amidst a Violent Manhunt
The Hunting Party Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Learning to Trust Amidst a Violent Manhunt
15 Best TV Vampires in Ever Put to Screen
15 Best TV Vampires in Ever Put to Screen
‘The Ascent’ Will Throw a Wedding Party to the Sharks in New Horror Movie
‘The Ascent’ Will Throw a Wedding Party to the Sharks in New Horror Movie
The Origins of Cricket – Sports Gossip
The Origins of Cricket – Sports Gossip
Eagles dominate Super Bowl LIX to deny Chiefs 3-peat
Eagles dominate Super Bowl LIX to deny Chiefs 3-peat
Chiefs’ Hopkins: ‘Are y’all gonna talk about the refs now?’
Chiefs’ Hopkins: ‘Are y’all gonna talk about the refs now?’
Brady needs to be a star in TV gig, not a game manager
Brady needs to be a star in TV gig, not a game manager
D.L. Hughley Says Kendrick Halftime Show 1st Good Thing Since Trump’s Return
D.L. Hughley Says Kendrick Halftime Show 1st Good Thing Since Trump’s Return
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl looks turn heads as fans speculate about a possible proposal
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl looks turn heads as fans speculate about a possible proposal
Vince Neil Not on Board Plane Involved In Deadly Crash, Girlfriend Survives
Vince Neil Not on Board Plane Involved In Deadly Crash, Girlfriend Survives
Taylor Swift gets booed, Kendrick Lamar disses Drake — and what was up with that scoreboard? Here are the most viral moments of the night.
Taylor Swift gets booed, Kendrick Lamar disses Drake — and what was up with that scoreboard? Here are the most viral moments of the night.
I Wore Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Loveline Lingerie Set
I Wore Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Loveline Lingerie Set
Inside The Society of MSK and NET-A-PORTER’s Winter Lunch
Inside The Society of MSK and NET-A-PORTER’s Winter Lunch
LaQuan Smith’s NYFW Surprise, InStyle’s Wild New Interns!
LaQuan Smith’s NYFW Surprise, InStyle’s Wild New Interns!
Bloomingdale’s and Flamingo Estate’s NYFW Dinner at Casino
Bloomingdale’s and Flamingo Estate’s NYFW Dinner at Casino