NBA denies Warriors player’s request for religious vaccine exemption

The NBA has denied Golden State Warriors’ forward Andrew Wiggins’ request for a religious exemption from COVID-19 vaccine mandates, the New York Times reported. 

The new ruling means that Wiggins, the first pick in the 2014 NBA draft, will be barred from attending home games in San Francisco this upcoming season unless he gets vaccinated. 

The city’s government last month mandated that citizens show proof of vaccination to attend large indoor events, not allowing negative COVID-19 tests as an alternate option. 

Wiggins will also likely be barred from participating in games against the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets on the road due to New York City’s similar vaccination mandate enacted last month.

The NBA has announced the following: pic.twitter.com/6t1spKMU35

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 24, 2021

The league’s players union has pushed back against a mandatory requirement for all players to get vaccinated, which the league doesn’t currently have in place. 

Unvaccinated players would still be allowed to play but will have to submit to daily COVID-19 testing, the Times reported. 

Brooklyn Nets star guard Kyrie Irving also risks being barred from playing in home games this season due to his vaccine refusal. 

The Hill has reached out to the NBPA for comment.